Form E Income Needs: What is a "reasonable" monthly amount for groceries?
Right now, you share costs with your ex. You haven't paid a solo water bill in 15 years. How are you supposed to know what "reasonable" looks like for a single-person household? What if you guess too low and end up struggling to pay your bills? What if you estimate too high and the judge thinks you're being greedy or dishonest? You're staring at an empty table, paralysed by the fear of getting it wrong. Let's fix that.
You've just opened Section 3.1 of Form E, and you're already panicking.
The page is asking for your "reasonable income needs"—a detailed breakdown of every penny you'll spend each month after the divorce. Groceries. Council tax. Gas. Broadband. Pet food. Haircuts.
But here's the problem: you have no idea what you'll actually spend.
Right now, you share costs with your ex. You haven't paid a solo water bill in 15 years. How are you supposed to know what "reasonable" looks like for a single-person household? What if you guess too low and end up struggling to pay your bills? What if you estimate too high and the judge thinks you're being greedy or dishonest?
You're staring at an empty table, paralysed by the fear of getting it wrong.
Let's fix that.
The "Invisible" Costs Everyone Forgets
Most people approach Section 3.1 by thinking: "Right, I need food, electricity, and petrol. Done."
Then, six months after the divorce, they're blindsided by costs they completely forgot to budget for:
- Dentist and optician – You need a check-up once a year. That's £60–£100 you didn't account for.
- Car repairs and MOT – Your exhaust doesn't break on a schedule, but it will break.
- Home maintenance – Boilers fail. Gutters leak. Landlords charge for repairs.
- Gifts and Christmas – You still have to buy birthday presents for your kids, your mum, your best mate.
- Clothing and shoes – You can't wear the same boots for five years.
- Prescriptions and toiletries – Paracetamol, shampoo, toothpaste, tampons—it all adds up.
Here's what most people don't realise: the Family Court is not asking for a "survival budget." It's asking for your reasonable needs based on the standard of living you enjoyed during the marriage.
If you've always had Sky TV and a family gym membership, the court won't punish you for including those. But if you lowball everything to look frugal—and then your ex's solicitor cross-references your bank statements—you'll lose credibility fast.
The trick is to be realistic and defensible. Not stingy. Not extravagant. Just honest.
But how do you know what "realistic" even looks like?
The Data: What Do UK Households Actually Spend?
You don't need to guess. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) tracks average household spending across the UK, and the figures are publicly available.
Here's a breakdown of average monthly costs for a single-person household in 2024:
| Category | Average Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Groceries | £250–£300 |
| Gas & Electricity | £180 |
| Water & Sewerage | £35 |
| Mobile & Broadband | £45 |
| Home Insurance | £25 |
| Council Tax (Band D) | £170 |
| TV Licence | £13 |
| Petrol/Car Costs | £100–£150 |
| Clothing & Personal Care | £40–£60 |
Important notes:
- These are national averages. If you live in London, your costs will be higher. If you live in Yorkshire, they'll likely be lower.
- These figures assume you're renting or have a mortgage. If you own your home outright, remove the housing costs but keep utilities.
- If you have children living with you, multiply food and clothing costs accordingly.
These averages give you a defensible baseline. You're not plucking numbers out of thin air—you're using government data. If your ex's solicitor questions your budget, you can say: "These are ONS averages for a single-person household in the UK."
That's a much stronger position than: "I dunno, I reckon I'll spend about £200 on food?"
But here's the problem: most people don't know this data exists. They spend hours Googling "how much does the average person spend on electricity" and "what's a normal monthly food bill" and stitching together a budget from random forum posts.
There's a better way.
Stop Guessing. Let Divvio Do the Maths.
When you reach Step 28 (Income Needs) in Divvio, you'll see an empty budget table—just like the one on Form E.
But here's the difference: Divvio has a "Populate UK Averages" button.
Click it once, and the software instantly pre-fills your budget with defensible national averages for every category:
- Groceries: £275
- Gas & Electric: £180
- Water: £35
- Broadband: £30
- Mobile: £15
- Council Tax: £170
- And so on...
You're not locked into these figures. You can tweak them up or down based on your actual circumstances:
- "I have solar panels, so my electricity is lower."
- "I have two dogs, so pet costs are higher."
- "I live in London, so my Council Tax is Band F, not Band D."
But instead of starting from scratch—panicking over whether £250 or £400 is "reasonable" for groceries—you start with a solid, evidence-based baseline.
No more guessing. No more anxiety. No more wondering if you've forgotten something critical.
The data is already there. Divvio just makes it visible.
Try Divvio for free and see how the "Populate UK Averages" button takes the guesswork out of Section 3.
Think of it as having an ONS researcher sitting next to you, filling in the boring bits—so you can focus on the parts that actually matter.
Divvio is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Budget figures are based on ONS 2024 averages and should be adjusted to reflect your individual circumstances. If you're unsure about your income needs, consult a qualified family law solicitor.