What are your monthly living expenses?

[Mahonri]

I wish we could get by with just $4,000 a month, but with 7 kids that would be almost impossible.
That or my wife and I would have to learn new life skills and change our behavior.

 

[michickenwrangler]

Our heat and power are very low as well. The pellet stove keeps our 600 sq. foot well insulated house well over 80 degrees even in the single digits, so we always end up turning it off for 6-10 hours during the day so we go through about a bag every 2 days. We use the fluorescent bulbs and have energy efficient appliances so the electricity is low.

Main expenses are the horse and my truck payment

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Quote:
Thats me mac.

Own the house an the truck is 25 years old. Food, internet, insurance, power, water, yada yada yada comes in just under $500. Good thing cause I only make about $600 a month. If I made $700 I bet my bills would be $600. Just the way it works.

 

[Beth G.]

I budget and budget and budget!! Unfortunately, the money goes as fast as you make it, it's already calc. spent!!

Even after I budget for things like feed store, gas, groceries, and all the norm that goes with owning a farm I have to ask myself......WHY AM I STILL IN CONNECTICUT THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACE AROUND!!!

Sad part is my DH and I Hunt, Fish, garden, can, hunt for food in the woods like nuts, berries, and mushrooms. We still have too much debt! I hate it

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
But isn't the question what your expenses are? Not what we pocket, but what our expenses are.

Expenses are just about what we bring home. We do alot of coop improvements, and now with Robert, the food bill is higher and so are all the utilities. Amazing what a difference a 3 year old can make. We heat with wood, but that is $305/cord. Ken NEEDS a large tv package so direct tv is about $150/mo. Rent alone is $1300.

 

[txchickie]

We are blessed. My husband's job provides us with a very nice home plus all utilities, absolutley free. We have our home, 12 acres, a horse barn, equipment barn. Plus my coop

He also makes a very nice salary, which includes a new company pickup every year. We will be here forever, LOL!

 

[TigerLilly]

I'm on the lower end, but not as low as Boyd. Working on paying off my car & 1 credit card & that'll free up an extra $250. Not a lot, but it helps. Trying to reduce the electric any way I can. Only use heat sparingly in the winter (footy pajamas & heavy blankets; heat up the bathroom a little for the shower) & keep the a/c at 80-82 when it's really hot out. For about 5 months of the year I do without a/c. If the humidity wasn't so bad, I could probably do without a/c except for Jul/Aug...

 

[Hound]

We're under $1000 because our house and utilities are provided with my husband's job, as is the horses' feed and our internet. We're provided with free beef, and my husband is fed breakfast and lunch. That being said there's not much left over at the end of the month... well generally there isn't anything left at the end of the month. It's nice not having to worry about rent or utilities BUT no job = no house and we don't have a place of our own that we could be paying off.

 

[Moabite]

Budget philosophies in my 30's: Poor person spends like they are rich.... Rich person spends like they are poor. If you can't afford to buy it, you surely can't afford to borrow for it. Two kinds of people in this world: Those who borrow money and those who lend it. If you can't afford to do it right the first time, then you are really gonna struggle to do it twice!

Budget Philosophy in my early 20's: I spent 80% of my money on beer and women, the rest I just wasted. ( not actually true, but seems like it now)

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Beth G. :

....WHY AM I STILL IN CONNECTICUT THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACE AROUND!!

um... try living in the San Francisco Bay Area where EVERYTHING is more expensive than most parts of the country!

Examples:
Connecticut state income tax is 5% for most people. In California, income tax for most people is 9.5%!
Connecticut gas: $2.99 California: $3.14
... and on and on.​