Play The System

Personal Cashflow Lifestyles & Strategy
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Tax
Mortgage / Rent
Leisure
TV Licensing
Groceries
Restaurants / Bars / Hotels
Car Expenses
Holidays
Car Purchase
Life Assurance / Pension
Utilities
Council Tax
Insurances
Phone / Mail
Alcohol / Tobacco
Public Transport
Savings / Investments
Education
Health
Save Money 

 

  

 

The average UK household annual gross income is £29400, whilst average outgoings total £32188 (an ominous shortfall made up by borrowing). Below is a detailed breakdown of the typical expenditure, ordered from highest to lowest contributor. Compare your own spending against the average to identify serious areas of overspend. The final column summarises how Play The System can slash these expenses. Use the links to find out the detail.

 

Category 

Contents 

Average Annual Household Spending 

Play The System

Income Tax

income tax

 £4508.40

How to pay zero income tax

Mortgage / Rent

 mortage payments / rent (net of benefits)

 £3380

From rent to mortgage, from mortgage to free 

 Groceries

food and non alcoholic drinks shopping 

 £2355.60

How to save money at the supermarket

 Recreation -

TV Licencing, Leisure

music, tv and satellite, tv licence, computers, internet, cameras, boats, horses, caravans, toys, pets, sports, cinema, theatre, gambling, newspapers, books 

 £2288

How to ditch your TV licence and kit out your PC for free

Restaurants / Bars / Hotels

restaurants, bars and hotels 

£1908.40 

How to get your accommodation for free 

Car Expenses

servicing, repairs, petrol, breakdown cover, car tax 

£1664

How to get cheaper fuel, Rescue, car tax and more

Home Furnishing

household furniture, furnishings, appliances, tools 

£1560

Free furniture, free smoke alarms, free lightbulbs

Home Improvements

home and garden improvements

£1300 

Free compost

Holidays

package holidays and holiday spending

£1367.60 

Get accommodation for free

National Insurance

national insurance contributions

£1263.60 

How to pay the minimum NI

Car Purchase

vehicle purchase costs

£1242.80 

Don't buy new, don't buy on Finance 

Clothes / Shoes

clothing and footwear 

£1180.40 

Slash the cost of your wardrobe 

Life Assurance / Pension

life insurance and pension contributions 

£1086.80 

Make sure you've got a pension. Get life assurance for free

Misc. Goods / Services

hair, toilettries, jewellry, baby equipment, childcare, moving house, bank charges, credit card charges, legal fees,

£1060.80

 All sorts of goods and services for less or for free

Utilities

water, electricity, gas 

£1300 

Water, Electricity & Gas all for less

Council Tax

council tax 

£884 

Challenge it

Insurances

Travel, medical insurances 

£738.40 

Travel free, Medical: NHS free

Phone / Mail

communication costs: post, home phone, mobile phone, fax 

£618.80

Mobile phone & contract for free, postal mail for free

Alcohol / Tobacco

alchohol (brought home) and tobacco 

£561.60

 Slash this category to zero

Public Transport

train, bus, boat, plane, taxi 

£514.80

Train, Flights and Bus travel all for less

House Maintenance

house and garden maintenance and repairs 

£400.40

Free compost

Savings / Investments

savings and investments

£374.40

Ditch the savings account, go shares and funds 

Education

nursery, general school expenses, university fees

£343.20

Ditch or reduce nursery and pres-school costs

Health

medicine, optical, medical, dental

£286

Get treatments and remedies for free