This content applies to Scotland only.

Housing laws vary between Scotland and England. Get advice relating to England

Besides bills and insurance, you will also have to include living expenses in your budget. This page lists costs you may need to take into consideration, and also has links to websites with more useful budgeting advice.

Personal expenses

• mobile phone
• credit card repayments
• loan repayments
• meals at work or your place of study
• toiletries (shampoo, deodorant, make-up, etc)
• clothes, shoes and accessories
• cigarettes
• pension
• other savings
• professional subscription
• union dues
• club or society subscription
• newspaper and magazine subscription
• charity donations
• evening classes or other learning expenses

Family expenses

• nappies and baby goods
• babysitting
• childcare
• children's clothes
• children's travel
• children's school expenses
• pocket money
• toys and books
• family days out

Household expenses

• food
• laundry
• cleaning products (soap, washing powder, dishcloths, etc)
• household goods and kitchenware
• internet or broadband charges
• digital or satellite TV
• garden upkeep (plants, tools, etc)
• pet food and vet bills

Travel costs

• running a car
  • petrol
  • car insurance
  • car tax
  • MOT
  • repairs and maintenance
  • parking
  • road/bridge tolls and other charges
• public transport
  • travel pass
  • bus or train fares
• taxis

Health care costs

• prescription charges
• optician
• dentist
• vitamins
• painkillers and medicines

Entertainment

• drinking
• eating out
• clubbing
• cinema
• theatre
• CDs
• books
• videos/DVDs
• video/DVD rental
• computer games

Sport and fitness

• season ticket
• gym membership
• team membership
• sports equipment

One off expenses

• presents
• holidays
• Christmas
• weddings
• large purchases such as a new computer or sofa

Find out more

• If you're leaving home for the first time, the page on budgeting in the leaving home section has more information.
• MoneySavingExpert.com has lots of tips on how to save money on every day expenses, and also has a comprehensive budget planner to help you work out your finances.
• Whatprice.co.uk is a useful site that gives cost estimates and price comparisons for a range of expenses, from plumbing to running a car.
• The National Debtline has advice on budgeting and a free budgeting and debt repayment planner to download.