Disposable Income.

We're all used to seeing comparative charts about the 'best and worst', or 'prettiest or ugliest', but this one was new to me.

It is generally accepted that Brighton residents are not short of a bob or two. You only have to drive around to see the huge expensive houses, and fancy cars. The city exudes an aura of wealth (which not all of us can claim to possess). It is just an hour from London, it's by the sea, and claims to have 600 restaurants; what more could you want. This chart (below) appeared in the press recently.

I find the chart quite interesting. A monthly disposable income of £1,300 is NOT really what I would describe as great wealth, with Londoners having £300 less.  A weekly spending facility of around £300 is not huge. A couple of meals out and a visit to the Theatre over the weekend, and you'd be back at the Food Bank before lunch on Tuesday.

I imagine by 'Disposable Income' they mean available money left over after all 'essential' expenses have been paid; i.e. money that we spend on food, drink, sweets, clothes, etc. Life is so expensive these days, that one wouldn't have thought that the sums they quote would go very far. Poorer families who live on tattoo ink and expensive takeaways would soon find that they are over their limits.

Of course things do tend to be a bit quite pricey down here. House prices are silly, rents are prohibitive, and enjoying yourself doesn't come cheaply. I am old, and no longer go out too much, so I'm not a big spender; a few pints now and again. Staying in to read a book costs nothing.

In the past decade or so, people have been selling-up in London, and moving down here en masse. Life in London is not what it was, and people feel unsafe with immigrant criminal gangs whizzing about on E bikes, stealing phones or stabbing people. Londoners move here and instantly feel safer and healthier, they also find that they have a bit of extra cash in their hands, as property prices in central London exceed those of Brighton.

Personally I do manage to save a wee bit of my Disposable Income each month, then usually something comes along to consume it all. One step forward, two steps back.

I've never actually cared too much about money, spending power, bank balances, etc. I've never chased after money, and as such have never had much of it. As long as I'm solvent at the end of each year; I'm HAPPY. But it's quite nice to know that my neighbours are all reasonably well-off.