What does your budget look like???

[boefixepa]

Re: What does your budget look like???

Lisa,

Congrats on the marriage! I wasn't sure if you two had just moved out of the in-laws house or if you'd actually gotten married! CONGRATS!

Since your husband is legally disabled have to looked into financial aids you may qualify for? Housing assistence? Obviously your holding for the disability pay... I know there are lots of things out there designed to help those with disabilities, but I don't know them personally. Grutina on this site is deaf, you might try sending her a private message and see if she has some ideas where you could look for aid. The fact that your husband is blind should give you quite a few more options to look at.

Other then that I side with PP in wanting to know where hubby stands on the budget. I know each couple works out their own means and methods, but from your other posts I am guessing you are the personality type that likes to keep everything flowing and not rock any boats, the peacemaker type. My dear friend is one too, every family needs at least one, but I know often times she suffers in silence and when she finally brakes down and tells you what the matter....I'd look at her and ask 'why didn't you tell me that two months ago!' I just want to make sure you don't get into that situation. (I like you too much!!)

Oh, after thought. Put up signs at the COLLEGE offer tutoring for like $30 an hour! If you are desperate to pass Cal 1 because you are taking it AGAIN there are college students willing to pay it! Parents aren't generally so generous, but they are closer to your house.

[boefixepa]

Re: What does your budget look like???

If you have really cheep windows...I did in one apartment I lived. Keep them well covered in the winter (I stapled a blaket over mine) the heat leaks out like an opened window. In the summer I'd put up tin foil, reflective side to the outside, to reflect the sunshine out. This is a BIG help on windows that get direct sunlight in the summer!! Bad windows are a real source of trouble for the energy bill.

[LuxLiving]

Re: What does your budget look like???

Lisa can you have your husband mention to his parents that you might be needing some OTHER school clothes/supplies/lunch food/car oil, etc. and that perhaps a giftcard to Walmart might be more helpful than another sweater?

[disneysteve]

Re: What does your budget look like???

He has other expenses that I don't have. He graduated college last December so he's having to pay back his student loans now, plus his own credit card debt. That's why I don't ask him for the money. He's got his own to worry about.

So do you keep your finances totally separate? If so, is he also running at a deficit?

If both of you are spending more than you are making, you've got a serious problem. If, however, he has a surplus, you really need to consider merging your finances to get rid of your deficit. It's not a matter of whether or not you want to ask him for money. You got married. Now you are in this life together as a team.

[abowers]

Re: What does your budget look like???

We are both grad students. (Eeeep.)

2 grad students - 1 greyhound.

My half of things in a given month:
$380 rent
$35 gas & electric (let's watch this double as we get into winter)
$35 cell
$60 gas
$90 car ins
$262 car payment
$150 groceries
$50 eating out
($123 undergrad loans - but currently deferred for grad school)
~$123 - credit cards! paying down my debt which is all on 0% cards until July '07 - which means I will pay it off by then!!

The dog hasn't cost too much so far--$50 for some preventative heartworm medicine, a few toys & bedding when we first got her, and $35 on food/treats for training every 8 weeks.

That leaves about $200 left a month, which is going into my ING account as my wedding/emergency fund. I'm on student health insurance which for $230/year pays for major accidents, so that is what my emergency fund is for (i.e. eye exam coming up next tuesday). In addition to the $200 extra/month - I've got a little bit of excess on my subsidized stafford grad loans beyond tuition my grad assistantship doesn't cover (a few hundred) that is going toward the emergency fund which paid for my textbooks this fall and which will pay for my eye exam & new contacts on Tuesday.

Fiance is making more than me, and gets free tuition (I get 6 credits), and doesn't have a car or edu loan payments, but recently spent a budgeted amount of his savings on my engagement ring :-) We split all our bills equally except sometimes he fills up my gas tank & usually pays when we eat out.

[lillyb]

Re: What does your budget look like???

Our monthly budget:
2 adults, one teen, one lil pooch
Income about $4,000 a month, yearly bonus would average an additional $550 monthly.

Monthly Expenses:
Mortgage- 470
Student loan- 156
Electric- 250 (working on getting this down)
Dish/phone/dsl- 90
Phone- 25 (for relative that can't afford it)
Cells- 140 (mine and teen, under contract, will not renew)
Water/sewer/garbage- 25
Netflix- 20
Sirius- 30 (all 3 vehicles, not many radio stations out here)
Groceries- 325 (includes household items)
Gas- 150
Spending- 325 (high enough to keep us on budget )
Total expenses: 2006

Insurances- house and 2 vehicles (teen pays her own) average 200 monthly, but we pay annual or bi-annual premium when they come in. Health and life insurance paid by dh's employer.
House taxes paid annually, would average 58 monthly.

Only a 3% going to IRA, 100% matched, at the moment. We want to knock out the mortgage and student loan within the next couple years before we really start investing.

Everything left over is going to savings for a bigger emergency fund, then it's on to the student loan and house. Totally debt-free goal by age 39.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: What does your budget look like???

Ok, I should have clarified. He has other expenses that I don't have. He graduated college last December so he's having to pay back his student loans now, plus his own credit card debt. That's why I don't ask him for the money. He's got his own to worry about.

I did talk to him about my financial problems and he said he'd planned on helping me with the insurance anyways... we just haven't gotten it yet.

I have been working this afternoon on getting bills down. My birthday is coming up on the 11th, and my inlaws tend to buy me gifts, which I hate... seriously... my closet is OVERFLOWING with sweaters ....

glad you talked, hope you continue to merge finances, and I hope together you can get costs down.

energy, dittoing the windows, also if you havn't yet unplug your house..if you are not currently using it (ok leave one clock at all times) unplug it! no matter how small..the less electricity you use, the less you pay.

aim for non electric entertainment, it it isn't saving you money or making you money, cut it..as a new married couple I am sure you can think of something to do in the dark...

so...you mean you don't have car insurance?..politically I disagree with the law, but truthfully it is cheaper to get it........

[PrincessPerky]

Re: What does your budget look like???

and congrats to abowers on being so close to paying off cc!

[disneysteve]

Re: What does your budget look like???

so...you mean you don't have car insurance?..politically I disagree with the law, but truthfully it is cheaper to get it........

Totally OT, but since you mentioned it... Do you not think drivers should be required to carry insurance? Just curious what your reasoning is there.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: What does your budget look like???

I am a libertarian, I ........... well much of anything outside of the constitution that the govt is doing..but that is really OT..I would love to tell you why..but I think in an email would be better (save everyone else from having to see it), and if you really want the long version feel free to pm me with yours, I'll send it. (I wont be insulted if you don't want it either)

[bjl584]

Re: What does your budget look like???

Let's see:
This is all per month

768 Mortgage (668 + 100 extra toward principal)
300 Home Equity Line (Payment is actually 120, but I pay extra)
200 All Utilities including phone and cable tv
400 Funding of Roth IRA and personal mutual funds and money market.
120 Gasoline
100 Groceries (I live alone)
0 Credit Cards (No credit card debt here)

That's about it. That leaves me with around 500 left over to do with as I wish. Purchases, entertainment, etc.

I also have a part time job that brings in 640 per month. I don't factor this money into my budget. I am currently putting all of this money into a savings account to build up my emergency fund.

[doodles44]

Re: What does your budget look like???

Here's mine (single gal, living with bf, that explains the living situation). Taking home about $2500

Rent- $600
Car payment- $225
Car insurance- $130
Transportation- (gas and daily train to work)- $175
Groceries- $200
Short-term savings- $100
Long-term savings- $400
Cell phone- $30
Entertainment- $150
Clothes- $200
Personal care/toiletries/hair-$70
Student loan- $100 (will be done soon )
Parental loan- $50
Misc.- $80
Medical- $40

Misc. (and also funds from my second job - about $80/month) go for gifts but usually more clothes & shoes. I know this is a problem but I shop on sale and also do e-bay, etc.

[Ima saver]

Re: What does your budget look like???

You can tell we are all interested in budgeting. Most people don't even know what there bills are every month. They never write them down.

[sweet c]

my budget looks so different here in Canada

Three cats -1 bird-1 hamster-child-1 adult
Rent-$886
Laundry-$40
City bus-$120
Karate for 2-$184
Pets-$100
Milk-$40
Bread-$18
Phone-$33
Cable&internet-$70
Toiletries-$30
Groceries-$400
Fun for little one-$100
This is every cent of my money!!!!!!

[snafu]

I was surprised that bread and milk weren't part of the 'groceries' category and there was no sum allocated for child care. I'm alarmed that you've not listed any savings, Emergency Fund, RRSP or even TFSA. Can we help you make a few small adjustments to 'pay yourself first' and begin a modest savings plan.