Poll: What are your monthly expenses?

[Fern]

What are your monthly expenses, and how large is your family?

I am single and my monthly expenses usually run in the $2,500 range, though various home repairs can make that figure even higher.

My income also tends to vary a bit from month to month as I freelance as well as hold a f/t job.

My biggest expenses are the mortgage/property taxes ($1,200/month + I prepay $100/month), out of pocket healthcare costs (healthy but middle-aged!), food ($200 to $275 month)

Utilities: Basic Cable, $19/month
Electricity (includes stove): @$55/month
Fuel oil: 2 tank fillups for entire season, i'm guessing about $600 as i keep it very cool, tho this year will be thru the roof anyway
Phone: $20 for land line and i use calling cards (.03/minute) for all toll calls. No cell phone.
Car insurance: About $700/year after all discounts.
Homeowners Cant' remember, but it's gone up, maybe $600/year?
Taxes: Borough:$225/year (hate this!)
Car tax: $125/year (hate this!)
Sewer facility assessment: $600 a year for another 6 years at 3% interest
Sewer usage fee: $30 every quarter
Water usage fee: $30 every quarter
Gas for car: $35/month (i can walk to work)

[mom-from-missouri]

mortgage (taxes/insurance are built in) $657 a month (but I try to pay $675 to $700
electric $111 (level plan)
water/sewer $24
food $200 or under
gasoline $150
cell phone $29
landline with DSL $49
dish (local channels only for news) $5.99
3 daughters @ private school $531
eating out $25
misc $200
car insurance (pd quartley, but monthly av) $70

There are 3 children and myself. I am not counting medical expenses at this time, as I am in my companies medical flexcare account, and have a prepaid creditcard for deductables. Next month my gas and food will both go up about $25, as i will have extra miles to take the girls to school, and for their school lunches. (Yes, I really do feed 4 on around $200 a month. I shop Aldi's, buy in bulk, and cook from scratch. I also buy my meat from a farmer friend a whole hog or whole beef at a time)

[BAGAGT1]

Mortgage/Property Taxes $1683.92
Association $136.29
Car #1 $399.94 (only 3 payments left!)
Car #2 $296.48
Auto Insurance $102
Furniture $124
Cell Phones $74
Land Line (Mostly used for DSL) $76
Electricity (Seasonally Averaged) $40
Gas (Seasonally Averaged) $35
Sewer/Water $19
Life Insurance $80
Cable $9 (Don't watch much tele, but need an antanae)
Food $250 average (depends on how often we go out to eat)

Just my wife and myself and our cocker spaniel

Oooh! forgot to add the most painful expense of them all (gasoline) up until recently we were paying $240 a month, but since the wife started a new job, we can now commute together so hopefully we can trim this expense down a bit.

[Snoopy2645]

We have a family of 5 & our mortgage until paid off is $500 hope to pay if off before the year is over!! electric & gas $200 phone $40 cable $100 insurance is about $100 a month on both cars water is $60 food $400 dr bills $50 life insurance is $12 & gas for both cars is $250 dh's truck payment is $450 I am sure I am forgetting something boy this looks worse than I thought!!!

Mustang loan: $400
Grand Am: $175 (paid by SO's brother, as well as the insurance for it, he uses this car)
Discover - technically $23, but I always pay at least $50 a month (usually $100)
Best Buy: $15, but again, always pay more.
Cell plan: $110 (SO and I either split, but he usually pays this completely)
Cable TV/internet (have hook ups in 3 rooms): $124 (again, SO pays)
car insurance: $215.93
Upromise 529 plan (counts as a bill to me!) $50

So, 'my' expenses are really more around $570 or so, considering the Grand Am is taken care of, and SO pays for cable and cell phones (I make him pay cuz he is the one that uses it so much). We live rent free as he is a super, plan to do this until at least next year so I can build up savings for our house fund and get rid of the remaining debt. SO only has his car lease and car insurance. So the rest gets divided into savings, food, gasoline, and miscellaneous.

[34saving]

Mortgage $1613, but we pay $1913
Auto Insurance (2 cars) $87
House insurance $85
Phone $26
Electricity $65
Natural Gas $56
Sewer/Water $15
Garbage $15
Cable/cable modem $63
Food/eating out/entertainment $250
Baby supplies $20
"life" supplies $20
Clothes/shoes $20
Property taxes $140
Gasoline $110

We have 2 adults and 1 toddler in our family. I didn't count expenses for our rental, but they more than cover themselves, so . . .we also tithe, but do you mean that to count as an expense? If so that's another $400.

[PrincessPerky]

I can't write mine out all nice and neat, Murpheys law every time I do something significant changes. so I don't. But I do know that all the expenses come to about 2000 a month, I know that casue I no longer put anything on the CC and that is what DH makes, so it all equals out, well actually the bills come to slightly less, then we send the extra each month to the CC. (there are 4 of us btw)

[pennywise]

There are 3 in my home. My spouse, my daugher (age 9), and myself. I have always been frugal so we can afford life a little different now than we could 5 years ago. We highly value education.
ANNUALS
1) Spouses tuition for law school $10,000/year paid in full for a discount, includes books. 3years to go after this one, he just started in June.
2) My tuition and books will be $10,000 for a year - Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner - expecting a traineeship from fed govt (uknown value at this time). This year and next.
3) Daughter in private school: $8000/year paid in full for a discount
4) Summer camp $2500 includes breakfast and lunch (this expense will decrease next year)
5) Gymnastics - competitive averages $2,500 per year
6) House insurnace: $600/year
7) Car ins (3 with minimum coverage): $1,600
8) Property taxes: $1,700 (our home, 20 acres in Gaylord, and lot in private resort)

Monthly expenses:
1) Mortgage $1240.65
2) Electricity $30
3) Phone: land line $40 and cells $50 (2)
4) Heat: averages $110 month
5) Groceries: $300 (want to cut so will send note later to Mom In Missouri)
6) Gas for car: $65
7) Internet access: 21.95/month

Cars are paid for. I want to sell my 1996 Blazer with 125,000 miles. Blue Book is $4300. Want to sell for $3000. Price is based on my desire and not becasue something is wrong. Anyone need a car? We live in Michigan.

We have my husbands income only as my education will involve me 150%. His education is designed for a working person and he comes home daily and studies. I have completed a budget for the 4 years he is in school. I look for excesses and weaknesses. I rotate money from excesses into CD's and time the maturity for a weakness (this brings in a little). Because a minor pays no tax, the Cd is in my dtr name with me a custodian. Every member of a family must contribute to a family. I have educated my daughter on this. Look for banks with 500 dollar minimums and time the maturities. You must do an accurate budget. I have done this since age 20 and am 50, so I have 30 years experience. I also, pick up pop cans for bread and milk money each week. I am not too shy. Because someone else does not know what to do with their money does not mean I do not. Our assets enable us to retire at this time, so no need to fund retirement accounts at this time. I day trade and pick up money that way, however, I am stuck in the volatility right now. I usually can get 1,000 dollars every 3 months with careful trading. I strongly suggest you do not day trade unless you really know what you are doing, can afford to pay the margin (interest on borrowed money), or can lose all the money (becasue you will LOSE if you do not know what you are doing - I have studied for 10 years).

Oh, all education is paid from current income. I will not touch savings. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER touch your savings. Look for ways to increase income. When my husband lost his job he thought I would re-mortgage or go into savings. I was so mad at him, but I returned to work - as a nurse I am lucky to work at will and able to pull extra shifts.

I am looking to preserve my savings, decrease household expenses, and improve quality of life with the good natured people on this site. However, I am very knowledgeable and can help others. In addition, I do things other will not, for example the diapers for the menses and now washing them by hand. Laziness costs a lot of money. Hope this helps you.

[Jorge]

We're at about $700 for mortgage/taxes/insurance, $90 for electricity/water/sewer, $60 for natural gas, $40 for cell phone, $25 for house phone, $50 for the pet, $40 for car insurance, $50 for child's extracurricular activities, $30 for gasoline (usually), $175 for debt, $400 for groceries and eating out (trying to lower), and I'm sure there's more. Our household budget is only about $1500, but then we each pay for our own stuff in separate accounts.

my rent and utilities are split in half since i live w/ my fiance, so here are my parts:

Rent: $345 (yes, it's $690 total, and yes, i'm moving somewhere cheaper in a few months, lol)
Electricity: about $14
Water/Sewage: $10.50
Cable: $30
Cell Phone: $47

Those are the only ones I know of for sure... I'm working out a budget now for food and things.

Originally Posted by lisasayzhi

my rent and utilities are split in half since i live w/ my fiance, so here are my parts:

Rent: $345 (yes, it's $690 total, and yes, i'm moving somewhere cheaper in a few months, lol)

You say that like that's expensive? lol? In Jersey that is VERY cheap.

Originally Posted by karnic3881

You say that like that's expensive? lol? In Jersey that is VERY cheap.

Yes, and I actually plan to move to NYC after I graduate from college, and can afford that, but the thing is, here in NC, with no college degree yet, and having to work low-paying jobs like Wal-Mart when I'm not in class... what I pay now for rent IS very expensive. And no, my parents haven't helped me with a cent toward anything since I turned 18, and before that, I started working when I was 13 to help them out with bills and buy things I needed... no not wants, needs... like school supplies, clothes, etc. But yes, for someone who I assume (correct me if I'm wrong) probably makes more than $7.00/hr, $690 probably isn't much to pay for rent.

[PrincessPerky]

Ditto for Charlotte!

[meaghanchan]

My expenses:

$565 rent
$178 health insurance (I plan on getting it this month)
$76 transportation
$150-ish groceries
$60-ish electricity (during the summer. About $30 in the winter)
$150-$200 eating out/movies/out with friends (yeah... Trying to get this lower)
$30-$40 hygiene/drugstore stuff
$20-$40 clothes
$30 cell phone
$15 cable internet
$6 Netflix

I live with roommates so some of these expenses are split (cable internet is $45 but divided 3 ways it's $15).

[jmjj215]

I don't have time to write them all out, but my family (me, wife, and one-year old boy) keep the expenses to about $1400 per month. University life is simple and cheap if you let it be

Originally Posted by lisasayzhi

Yes, and I actually plan to move to NYC after I graduate from college, and can afford that, but the thing is, here in NC, with no college degree yet, and having to work low-paying jobs like Wal-Mart when I'm not in class... what I pay now for rent IS very expensive. And no, my parents haven't helped me with a cent toward anything since I turned 18, and before that, I started working when I was 13 to help them out with bills and buy things I needed... no not wants, needs... like school supplies, clothes, etc. But yes, for someone who I assume (correct me if I'm wrong) probably makes more than $7.00/hr, $690 probably isn't much to pay for rent.

I didn't mean to come across as condescending (although I think that's exactly how I came across). Sorry about that. My comment was supposed to relay the thought "I wish I could find rent that price here!", but as you said, everything is relative. But, I do have friends that are making $8-9 an hour (only slightly more) and managing rent/mortgages of $800-$1200. So I guess it depends. Hope things get better for you.

Originally Posted by karnic3881

But, I do have friends that are making $8-9 an hour (only slightly more) and managing rent/mortgages of $800-$1200. So I guess it depends. Hope things get better for you.

Wow, I'd certainly love to know how they do it... although, if I was able to work full-time during the school semester, I'd probably be doing better, and would have so much student loan debt. I have heard of some people who have gone to college and worked full time, and I tried that my first semester here, but full time schooling and full time working just didn't work for me because I never had time to study. Sorry I got a little worked up about it,... I just don't think my situation is as easy as it might appear to some.

[Fern]

Well, a quick observation, while prices vary for many things based on whereyou live, and housing costs are often difficult to control, it seems people here pay an inordinate amount for cable and phone service (including cell).

[akaivyleaf]

Cable and phone are the only two things I can cut or cut down on, to save household money. Luckily I'm in a place now where I don't have to do either and can enjoy their creature comforts.

Cable Companies and Phone Companies both charge way more than their product is worth, because they can.... if EVERYBODY could get internet phones, or dishes, and therefore provide real competition, prices would come down rapidly.

[jaksilee]

I live with my sister and her 2yrold right now so I have it easy compaired to some of you!!!

Income per month was $1269.00

Per Month I pay.......
Rent/heat/lights/water $250.00
Phone/internet $55.00
Cell Phone $90.00
Gas (before I lost my job) $250.00
Student Loans $50.00
Food $200.00
Car Insurance $ 60.00
HABA $20.00
Books $20.00 (yes I know not a must but if I don't put it in there I just spend it anyway!!!)
________________________________________________
Grand Total $995.00
leaving $274 for emergancys and if I can get it there savings


So that is what i have now...We'll see what my new budget will be once I move to Chicago next month!