It wasn't so much the salary (although I was on, at the time, about £45k) but the enormous redundancy package I got made through a compromise agreement! However, that was in the Thames Valley with a Thames Valley salary with Thames Valley housing costs. Here in Norfolk one is considerably lower paid but ones housing costs are even lower!
Set yourself a budget cash flow on a spreadsheet in order to work out what you can afford. And stick to it!!
Cheers
Whirls