A Breakdown of Your Monthly Budget? 213
"The purchase price of your home, car, or any other property would be relevant if you were to include an indication to where you were geographically, and how you felt it was in relation to the rest of the region. If you were to include the type of work you do I would group those accordingly. If you are part of a two (or more) income residence, handle that however you wish but make a note of it so I can better tweak the dataset.
With a decent dataset made available I would be willing to do some statistical analysis and make the charts / compiled data available for download.
If you are not already doing a breakdown along these lines it may be an eye opener for your own use (but share it here to help make the dataset larger, more accurate.)"
again? (Score:4, Interesting)
keep track of your finances with software and get the big picture.
spend less on the things you are spending too much on. stop paying for things you don't need (you need all those cable channels? all those cell phone services? do you need a cell at all? are you paying fees for a gold card you never use? do you buy stuff like coffee and snacks througout the day? that shit adds up.)
try and put away a fixed percentage of your income every month.
eat out less, or not at all. learn to cook.
don't buy CDs, download them or "burn and return". learn to play an instrument.
cut up all your credit cards except one. Put that one in a block of ice in the freezer for emergencies. don't shop online unless you have equivalent cash in your wallet.
if you go out with your friends and spend a lot of money every time, find new friends (you'll have to do it anyway, since most people don't understand and they'll take it personally when you say you want to save money instead of going out).
live below your means. you'd be surprised at home much money you can save if you cut out unneccisary crap. you might have to change your lifestyle though, can you handle it?
All good advice except... (Score:5, Interesting)
...for the part where you suggested he steal stuff: Don't buy CDs, download them or "burn and return"
Yes, the RIAA is completely out-of-line in its attempts to abolish fair use, and treat all its customers as criminals. None-the-less, what you suggest is not fair use by any stretch of the imagination.
How about this suggestion instead:
Re:All good advice except... (Score:2)
Huh? How is borrowing something legally from the library, reading/listening to/viewing it, and then returning it, anything at all like making illegal copies? It's not whether the copyright owner makes money, it's whether or not you, personally, are doing something against the law.The library has paid for each copy in circulation. Each copy is in use by only one person (family, whatever) at a time.
OTOH, if you download from some file-sharing network, one original paid-for copy has spawned a multitude of du
You got it... (Score:5, Informative)
- Mortage = $2950/month on my $400k loan. House in Massachusetts, just refinanced late last year.
- Car #1: $400/month, 2000 Volvo XC.
- Car #2: $200/month, leased Honda Accord
- Cell Phones: $80, T-Mobile family plan
- Comcast (cable+internet): $120 (includes movie channel package)
- Regular phone: $65 (Verizon)
- Electric : $80ish
- Oil heat: about 4 fillups a year, $350/per.
- Going out to eat: $150/month
- Food shopping: no budgeted amount but I can tell you I spent $400 in two visits over the past couple of weeks
- Student loans: none. Paid off when we got ahead on cash.
- Investments: $200/month into an SP index fund. Used to be $600, I cut back.
That's about all I can think of to itemize. Of course the last big budget item would go under "misc living expenses" and includes everything like special circumstances, travel/holidays/vacations, gifts, and so on, and usuaully ends up over $1500/month.Nothing special going into the baby's college yet, save for UPromise (loyalty program), holiday/relative money, and random transfers.
No special money going to retirement outside of the company 401k for both my wife and myself.
I'm pleased to say that we manage to keep an emergency savings fund of about $40k in the bank, too.
Re:You got it... (Score:1, Insightful)
Not too hard when you gross around $100,000 a year.
$100K a year? Try more like $120K. I make $100K, and I only bring home about $5700/mo.
Re:You got it... (Score:2, Insightful)
Taxes are higher than ever before. The amount stated above, $5,700 * 12 months = $68,400.00. What happened here? I thought he said he made $100K?!? Where is the other $31,600?
And that is before real estate taxes, sales taxes, car tag taxes, telephone taxes, and the list goes on...
After all of these taxes are paid you will be lucky to still have $45k left (approx %65 of the remaining $68k).
Where is the outrage in the streets?
Go back to sleep everyone...
Who is John Galt? (Score:2)
Re:Who is John Galt? (Score:2)
Re:Who is John Galt? (Score:2)
Re:You got it... (Score:2, Insightful)
I also wadger that as you go down the chain, the guy at the bottom is most liberal, feeling that since all the people above him are living lives of
tweak your dataset (Score:3, Funny)
The purchase price of your home, car, or any other property would be relevant if you were to include an indication to where you were geographically, and how you felt it was in relation to the rest of the region. If you were to include the type of work you do I would group those accordingly. If you are part of a two (or more) income residence, handle that however you wish but make a note of it so I can better tweak the dataset.
And if you could also include your mother's maiden name and your social security number that would be great. kthxbye!
mine (Score:5, Interesting)
Per month:
$50 cigarettes
$70 gas/car stuff
$20 eating out
$470 food/grocery store type stuff
$120 Credit Card minimum payments
$90 Girlfriend's credit card minimums
$100 electric
$750 mortgage
$13 cell phone (emergency only 5 minutes free a month plan)
$45 Telco, 2 land lines
$150 Satellite, Starband Internet + TV
$50 school loan
Car insurance is about $1100 between myself and my girlfriend paid yearly.
Household is self/girlfriend/6 year old son
So yeah, I'm barely scraping by on my $36,000 a year job as a programmer/analyst. Most extra money goes to paying off credit cards, or for lawyer's fees relating to custody of my son.
My girlfriend is looking for work, she majored in hearing and speech disorders in college. I did not finish college, but I went for 4 years in CS/CIS.
Yes, I'm considering cutting back the satellite seriously.
Re:mine (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:mine (Score:2)
Re:mine (Score:1)
Re:mine (Score:1)
Re:mine (Score:2)
My girlfriend is looking for work, she majored in hearing and speech disorders in college.
I would assume he's helping support her financially while she's looking for somewhere to work. You know, the type of thing that you'd do if you care for someone.
Good Luck (Score:1)
Enjoy this anonymous post (Score:4, Interesting)
Profession: Low rung IT (helpdesk/support)
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Monthly post taxes income = ~$1700
(All costs in half since I live with my girlfriend (have fun calling me a liar or my girlfriend fat, kids))
Rent (house, not purchasing) = $350
Bills (including car insurance, electricity, gas, water, trash, cable, etc.) = $300
Car payment = $80
Car insurance = $110
Credit card/loan payments = $240 (picking off the last $2000 in debt)
Food = $100
Gas (car) = $80
Total monthly living costs: $1260
Where the rest of the money goes is a mystery, because I sure don't have it. Some goes to drinking/going out, some to computer parts when I get the urge. Medical insurance is $10 for full coverage pretax out of my check if you're interested.
Re:Enjoy this anonymous post (Score:1, Informative)
Profession: Low/Mid IT (Hardware Tech)
$$$: 37500.00 base (I do get 10-12 hrs OT a month)
Avg Monthly after taxes: 2600.00
Gender: Male
Dependents: Wife + 3
Rent: 575.00
Car Loan: 320.00
Gas: 120.00
Food: 250.00 (this is a guess, we buy it if we need it [and have the cash], and twice a month, we stock up)
Phone (2 cells / no land-line): 70.00
Cable+internet: 50.00 (have to get at least the basic 15.00 cable to get internet - Charter SUX!)
Fun Fun Fun (Score:2)
Wait... that wasn't fun at all... I feel cheated. Oh well.
My budget. (Score:3, Interesting)
Never go to the movies.
Avoid eating out at all costs.
Buy in bulk.
Save Save Save.
Being single helps I guess but I have no pity for people who jump into marriage and kids and wonder (whine) about always being poor. With all major decisions in your life it takes planning.
Re:My budget. (Score:1)
Re:My budget. (Score:2)
My brother got me Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past for Gameboy Advance for $35 - I bought the Super Nintendo version for $15 at FuncoLand, then I went to Toys 'R Us traded the GBC version in for Golden Sun and Phantasy Star Collection (the first three games in the series) for $20 each.
So basically, I got about $250 worth games (based on approximate original prices) for $55 by buying each game between 1 and 15 years after each was originally released. Sure, I have to wai
Re:My budget. (Score:2)
Shame on you!
Re:My budget. (Score:2)
I have never bought a single CD or DVD in my whole life. I do not own a stereo or a DVD player.
I'm [un|self]employed. I do some websites here and there ($200-$300 a piece), set up the occasional network (same) and fix the odd computer ($50).
Back when i was a web developer I earned a glorious $300-$400 a month doing ASP (ASP sucks!!!). Euros actually... same difference.
I go to the movies once or twice a month($10), read a few websites with my 512k DSL($35/month), and spend my boring life wondering
Strange circumstances (Score:2)
So here is a question: Suppose you were getting two paychecks a month ($1400 a month take-home) - What would you spend your money on?
Currently I pay $40/month on cell phone, $50/month on student loans, and put away $100/month in retirement (401k equivilent). I should kick the retirement fund up, and will do so in the next few weeks. I sp
Re:Strange circumstances (Score:3, Funny)
That sounds like a highschool student, except the "my job provides my housing, my food, my utilities, and my Internet access" bit.
What are you, like the sysadmin for a strange highschool that allows you to live at the school? That's about the only thing I can think of that fits the description.
Oh, and as for what to do with your money -- give it to me, of course.
Re:Strange circumstances (Score:2)
I gotta admit, he sounded like a highschool student the first time I read it, too, 'cept for the government employee bit.
D
Re:Strange circumstances (Score:1)
Re:Strange circumstances (Score:3, Insightful)
My advice, Save every fucking penny.
I'm single and work fulltime and have a ton of useless money left over after each month....what do I do with it...I put some in RRSP
because I know eventually I will need it.
like the end of next month for instance when I quit my job.
It Pays to think ahead
Re:Strange circumstances (Score:2)
Save if you have something to save for. If you have kids or if you are growing old. Or else, spend the money, buy your family members some nice gifts.
Re:Strange circumstances (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Strange circumstances (Score:2)
I strongly disagree with this (note: I'm not a financial analyst...just some guy who likes computers and reads slashdot). However, this is my line of thinking:
Let's say you owe $1000, and you pay off $10 a month as the minimum at 1% interest. If you pay off the $1000 now, then that debt is gone. However, if you are able to pay off the $1000 in say three years time (a
Re:Strange circumstances (Score:2)
If you're happy with your standard of living, no, you shouldn't.
Save it. Invest it. You are under no obligation to purchase things you neither need nor want.
> Suppose you were getting two paychecks a month ($1400 a month take-home) - What would you spend your money on?
The idea that you're "supposed" to spend your paycheck as soon as you can is the reason why predatory lenders and check-cashing
Data (Score:4, Interesting)
Here's my breakdown - it's a rough average I use to keep track of things, it's usually accurate within 10-15% on the variable items:
26 years old, single, Houston, TX market
quality midsize 1 BR apt near downtown 900/mo.
Electric/Cable/Net 250/mo.
Food (some shopping, maj. eating out) 400/mo.
Entertainment (mostly means drinking, clubs, movies, etc - things I can cut back on in a financial pinch) 500/mo.
Transportation (car maintenance broken down, gas for a very short commute, bus fares, etc) $120/mo.
Total: $2170/mo, which is less than half my monthly take-home pay - the rest goes to one-off expenditures, toys, savings, emergencies, etc. You'll notice the distinct lack of a car payment, and that I prefer to rent instead of pay mortgage. I don't believe in America's Credit/Debt System at all - it's a tool to supress people into coming into line with what the goverment and major corporations want out of them. I own my car (it's not hard to buy a car outright even on a low budget - find a clean used car from an individual), and I won't buy a house till my savings/investments add up to being able to purchase it in cash, which may be never. I firmly believe this is the way to go, but my opinion is in the minority.
Re:Data (Score:2, Interesting)
Basically, for the cost of 10%, you can keep 100% of the appreciation in value of the house. Plus you can live in it. Then, when you sell the house you get all your money back.
Suppose a man came up to you and said "I have an account with a million dollars in it, tha
Re:Data (Score:2)
Kinda. Here's how I view the situation:
Unless you luck out, it's unlikely that the appreciation will match the interest paid. Sure, you may buy for 100k and sell for 120k some years down the road, but you probably payed most of that 20k in interest by then anyways. Of course there's specific examples of it going extremely in either direction, but I think in the overall these factors are somewhat balanced.
If you play the debt-based home-"ownership" game, you may own a house 30-40 years down the road aft
Re:Data (Score:2, Interesting)
But if you don't 'win the job game', you're still out on your ass. At least with a house, it can be sold and you have the ability to keep some of the money you've put into it. Your rent payment on the other hand, goes towards paying the landlord's loans or profit margins. A mortgage is probably the only thing you've listed that has some benefit to it. In my area, rents for decent places are usually higher than an equivalent mortgage, not to mention the interest can be written off. The problem is that p
Re:Data (Score:3, Interesting)
Well, of course if my job, or entire industry, continues to fall, I'll still be out on my ass, but it's a much softer landing. I can move to a cheaper apartment and work as a bartender or some other random crap job. If I had a typical debt load for someone in my income range and suddenly had a job downgrade, it would be very rough.
As for the fear thing (which some others mention in replies as well but I'll just address it here):
Some people have made some very valid comparisons between the current IT job
you ar forgeting the mortgage interest deduction (Score:2)
Re:Data (Score:2, Insightful)
Yea. You go! Fight the system! W00t!
For those of you with a few extra braincells and less interest in the Blac
Re:Data (Score:2)
Well, you didn't have to get offensive with our own brand of ignorance. You could try logic or something.
That sounds nothing like what I said. Did I not say I had a salaried job, etc? I'm not fighting the system - to fight the system I'd have to first stop being an upper middle class wage slave. I'm just trying to make an intelligent decision in uncertain times.
Re:Data (Score:2)
Data point (my house): Paid $X 6 years ago. Equity: 10%. Put in
Re:Data (Score:2)
You need to pay for any repairs and maintenance of the safe
You have the added cost of buildings insurance. You really don't want to be paying off the mortgage on top of everything else if the place burns down.
In a few months time, there's a reasonable chance you'll be able to get the same deal for 50-90% of the current $100,000
The government will ask you for some money to start this whole deal off (at least here in the UK). Remember to amortize it over y
Re:Data (Score:1)
Unix Sysadmin
Re:Data (Score:2)
Re:Data (Score:1)
Re:Data (Score:1)
but isn't that one of the reasons a person goes to their bank/credit union and gets pre-qualified for a certain amount?
Re:Data (Score:2)
Yeah I think you and another guy later down the thread as well read far too much into my insecurities. This is not about conspiracy - it's about simple capitalism and suppression. I know my industry is on a downward spiral. I know the future of the economy is risky but could go positive. I know the housing market is also in a risky position, but it's been that way before and come through ok. I know that banks, credit institutions, insurance companies, etc all want a peice of my pie. They're not involv
Re:Data (Score:2)
I lump automobiles into the discussion because they're the other large common source of debt. As I've said 10 times on the "no rent when you lose your job" argument - the argument is that if I lose my job I can move into a cheaper apartment easily, whereas downgrading houses may be hard in hard times (or even worse than downgrading houses, playing debt games with your existing equity to effectively lengthen the term of your home loan and drop the payments).
What I found... (Score:5, Informative)
The idea is that you have a set of envelopes representing each budget category, then you allocate money to each category when you get paid. It's all pretty automated. The software is, unfortunately, somewhat rough around the edges sometimes, but it works (and is much better than Quicken/Mac). Support is great.
Also, you can find a budget categories calculator at http://www.crown.org/Tools/budgetguide.asp [crown.org] . While it is Christian-based, the categories are not really much different because of that. (Which, unfortunately, may say something about the kind of "Christianity" espoused.)
Re:What I found... (Score:1)
Re:What I found... (Score:3, Insightful)
me (Score:1, Interesting)
18% (pretax) goes into a 401k retirement plan (3% matched by company).
10% (of the pretax amount, taken post-tax) goes into an employee stock purchase plan (which buys company stock at a 15% discount... so far, this has been a money maker, which is more than can be said for the 401k!).
That leaves about $2000/month in take home pay, after taxes.
$200/month of that goes into purchasing stock
Re:me (Score:1, Interesting)
No, it isn't. You realize that you are firmly in the upper-middle class with that salary; that you make more than 90% of america does, right?
Re:me (Score:2)
Another datapoint (Score:3, Interesting)
Wife's gross : $ 3600
We pay $1550 / mo in rent, shortly to become the same in a mortgage payment. After taxes, 401K contributions ($800/mo combined), and regular expenses we each put away about $800/mo in savings, with a trivial amount of student loans.
No car payments - one car, fully owned.
$80/mo cellphones
$40/mo landline (local and LD)
$100/mo cable and internet
$60/mo electricity
$80/mo gas (heat and cooking)
$21/mo Netflix!
$10/mo ReplayTV
$180/mo home and car insurance
Health insurance is cheap because one of us works for a local healthcare provider.
Some Numbers (Score:3, Interesting)
Taxes : $1500
Health Insurance : $150
Take home : $3550
Car Payment : 0
Car Repairs : $200 average
Car Insurance : $100
House Payment : $1200
Child Support : $400
Gas : $40
Eating Out : $400
Groceries : $400
Computer Toys : $250
Electric : $60
Gas : $80
Water : $80
Cell Phone $50
Land Line : $65
Cable : $50
CableModem : $50
Savings/401(k) : $0
Not sure where the rest of it goes.
Re:Some Numbers (Score:2)
I take it you don't live in Jersey. (If you don't, don't ever move here 'cause you'll regret it.)
Re:Some Numbers (Score:2)
Sounds like you need to ditch your car
I've got a $200 shitbox that my parents gave me 5 years ago. $0 on car repair for the last year and I'm gonna drive it till it dies without doing any more repairs. Just oil changes and stuff. And that's from one of the most unreliable cars known to man the ford/mercury topaz 92.
factsheet [autosafety.org]
Also $400 eating out /mo? ouch! /mo? damn.
And $250 of computer toys
Sorry I didn't mean to come off sounding mean, it's cool to see people with numbers that are dif
Re:Some Numbers (Score:2)
Get a girlfriend. They like to be eaten out, and unless you're real bad at it, you don't have to pay anything. *rimshot*
Seriously - learn to cook!
$12 - 2 12-oz New York Strip steaks
$ 1 - 2 potatoes, big pile of veggies
$ 1 - Half-pound o' mushrooms
$ 1 - Miscellany - butter, olive oil, sprinkle of flour, beef bouillon, splash of milk, dash of cognac
$10 - Bottle of half-decent Cabernet Sauvignon
$ 4 - Bar of really good dark chocolate.
---
$29 - Dinner for Two: 12-oz New York
I'll do percentages (Score:1)
6% goes into my employee stock purchase plan
10% goes to my 401k
I forgot how much goes into state taxes.
out of my take home:
25% is my rent.
10% is utilities
6% is dinner out (enjoy life now)
10% is groceries
20% is car insurance, gas, maintenance (I'm lucky I'm female or my insurance would kick this up 9 % more)
10% is clothing and/or "toys" and/or other entertainment.
6% is medical bills
The rest goes into savings and IRA which would tell too much about my salary.
These
Mine's about $15K/year, regardless of what I earn (Score:1)
Re:Mine's about $15K/year, regardless of what I ea (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Mine's about $15K/year, regardless of what I ea (Score:1)
Me (Score:3, Interesting)
Age: 24
Salary = About $5000 gross/month
Rent: 700
Car: 350
Car2: Done
Renter & Auto Insurance $150 (lead foot)
Utilities: $75
Phone: $35
Cellphone: $45
Cable/Internet: $90
Gas: $200
Food: $400
Sure, why not (Score:3, Interesting)
Here's a breakdown of my costs, just for fun. Keeping in mind I'm a student, my prices are pretty irrelevant, so I'll throw in some other costs from other places. All prices are in Canadian dollars, because I'm lazy and sleepy. All costs are shared with roommate except where specified.
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Compared to other places in Fredericton, I'm really getting shafted - $130/mo for heat is absurd when half the places in town include it, as is $600 for a two-bedroom when I could rent a one-bedroom all-included for $300. That being said, I can go from my front door to my furthest class last semester within fifteen minutes, which means I can get up a half hour before class starts, shower, eat, and still be on time, though out of breath. That's really what I'm paying for. Oh, and the hardwood floors, quiet neighbourhood, etc. I'm not paying for the extremely small hot water tank though. I don't pay for transit because I can't afford a car, and public transit isn't worth paying for.
I lived in Montreal with a friend of mine, but lost my job whle I was on vacation, denying me the satisfaction of quitting when I got back. We did a lot of exploring the city, but there's a lot of things to do in Montreal without spending money. Eating, however, is not one of those things.
Montreal, Quebec
As for how this compares to other options in Montreal, as near as I could tell, it's fairly standard, give or take a hundred or two dollars, but keep in mind this is downtown Montreal we're talking about, not the West Island or anything like that.
I still recall most of my parents' finances when they lived in BC. Most notable is their place in Mission, rather expensive; nice, but you pay for it, and a bitch to heat.
Mission, British Columbia
Mission is a small town about 20 minutes from Surrey, BC, making Vancouver rather accessible. Still, it's a small town, built into a hill pretty much, with only one Tim Hortons, one
My and my Gf's Budget (Score:2)
My income (from parents): $818/month
Rent: $700
Electric: $20/month (my share)
Phone/DSL: $35
T-Pass: $35
The rest of mine goes towards food, which you can see- isn't much. She ends up helping out quite a bit, because my parents are in quite a bind finacially. I don't really want to take out loans to pay for Rent- because it's so damn expensive anyway. My apartment's total is $1400 for a really crappy 2BR/1Bath in Bright
okay... (Score:2)
Goals: To go back to grad or law school. Saving outside of the stock market.
make 3500/mo, take home 2775.
340 goes to rent (up to 380 next month) -- I have roomates. (will be down to one next month.)
80 in electricity (Way too high for the place I have and noone has a clue why.)
50 in cell phone
50 in gym (mistake! I don't go often enough, but I'm stuck in one of those forsaken contracts. DO NOT GET A CONTRACT WITH BALLY'S. IT IS NOT A CONTRACT BUT A L
Re:okay... (Score:2)
I live in the southwest, where property values are rising but they're still just below national average.
Winter months are supposed to be very cheap (We didn't turn on the heater more than 5-6 times. Most nights I kept the window open!) but summers can be a bitch.
The Prius means I get gas once per 3 weeks, so it's in the extraneous expenses. I drive approximately 150 miles a week. I could stretch it out to 5 weeks if I were in a bind.
The prius is worth it. I would have usually bought a
Bally's (Score:2)
This is true. When you join a Bally's, you have to pay a fee -- this fee can be several hundred to several thousand dollars, depending upon where you live. Bally's will quite happily finance you the money to pay this fee over three years, at some pretty-bad-but-not-terrible interest rate. Your dues may be only, say, $15 a month, but you're paying an extra $50 a month on that original loan.
Depending upon your contract
Just Remember... (Score:2)
My Budget (Score:1)
State: NY
Profession: Low rung IT (helpdesk/support)
Age: 31
Gender: Male
Monthly post taxes income = ~$1000
Rent (house, not purchasing) = $320
Bills (including cable modem, cellular phone, etc.) = $200
Car payment = $0
Car insurance = $0
Credit card/loan payments = $0
Food = $200
Gas (car) = $0
Total monthly living costs: $720
Believe it or not, I live in the middle of one of the mos
Disturbing (Score:2)
Mine (24yo student) (Score:1)
Expenses
Board $200 p/m(At home with parents. This covers accom, food, internet)
Mobile phone $38 p/m
Car insurance $50 p/m
Petrol $80 p/m
Misc car expenses $50+
Entertainment $100
Then of course there is all that unpredictable stuff - car repairs (a string of those recently), wedding and birthday presents, uni expenses...
Income:
$variable
Sometimes my studies make it very difficult to work (I'm going to be a high school teacher) and I recently quit a $200pw job because it c
My story (Score:5, Interesting)
Currently, I work part-time in a damn BOWLOING ALLEY, because it's the only thing I could find right now. Anyway, I make about 400$/month after taxes. My wife makes about 1000$/month after taxes. Yep, we only net 1400$/month.
Anyway, the bills.
Rent: (2 bedroom apartment) 400$
Car: 275$
Car+Renter Insur.: 50$
Phone: Free (She works for the phone company)
1.5MBit SDSL: 9$ (See above)
Cable: 50$
Gas: 50$
Electricity: 75$
Food: 300$
Car2: 0$ (Repoed)
Credit Cards: 0$ (Closed due to nonpayment)
Misc: Everything that's left, about 200$.
Back in 2001, when I was last gainfully employed in my chosen field (IT) I was living it up. I made real good money, and spent it as fast as I got it. I had gotten used to an excessive lifestyle, got stupid. Digital cable + Satellite TV. Cable Modem AND DSL. A lot of money went out that I should of saved.
When the door closed on me, and I got laid off (I built an application and system monitoring system for 7500 servers, and when that was done, I was useless) it was a major shock to me. I had never thought that "it" would happen to me. That'd I'd be one of those unemployed people.
At first I turned my nose up at any job that paid less then 65k a year, now I'm in line for a possible tech support job that pays 15$/hr, and I'm willing, nay, HAPPY, if I actually get it.
Hell, I even decided to *gasp* go to college and get a degree or two and work on some certs.
I jumped on that Dot.Com wave and rode it like there was no tomorrow and no end. Chicago, Dallas, LA, Philly, I went where the money went.
Boy, do I ever regret it. I regret not going to college in the first place, and now here I am. Basically unemployed, preparing to file bankruptcy, 26, with a wealth of knowledge but no paper to prove it.
You live and learn though, I suppose.
And I'm waiting for the help desk job with bated breath. heh.
Re:My story (Score:2)
That's what I said and did. Here I am a year later and the demand for my services on the phones is a constant whereas my programming is not (designed it, made it, perfected, got it up the ass with a severance check (aka "me too")).
It's not so bad. Get the night shift and then you get paid more for almost no work. =)
Careful -- bankruptcy = no college loans! (Score:3, Interesting)
I found this out the hard way. I could throttle the person who gave me some bad advice -- when I was explo
Before I lost my job... (Score:1)
My house cost $250,000 (cheap where I live)--mortgage is $1400 a month
Yearly taxes for house =$6,000 ($500/ month)
Car Payment per month=$350
Insurance is $150 every other month
Broadband access=$50/mo
Groceries=$50/week
Wife is on disability.
So, I've made $0 a month for 1 year and 6 months. Savings are depleted.
Well, before I became unemployed... (Score:2)
I just think of it as:
Income - Expenses = Money Available to Spend (simple, yeah?)
For me, out of each $1000/month I was making, about $250 went to r
Re:Well, before I became unemployed... (Score:2)
I call my rainy day fund my "expected unemployment fund". In this industry, I fully expect to have a month or 2 of down-time per year. I've been lucky the past 2 years, with full employment.
Re:Well, before I became unemployed... (Score:2)
Hey, like I said, I'm just out of school, so I definitely wasn't expecting it to happen to me. Youthful optimism gone, maybe the next step is to expect this more often. Have any openings?
Partly just to see the itemization myself: (Score:3, Informative)
Expenses (/month)
Rent: $370
Food: ~$100
Utilities, cable, internet: ~$50 (I live with 4 room mates)
Cell: $45
And then there are miscellaneous things, like CDRW media and what have you. Occasionally I have to pay something huge, like tuition, or I get a nice tax refund or something, but I'm pretty much breaking even right now.
OK, here you go... (Score:3, Interesting)
Age: 32
Marital status: Married
Children: 2 (4yrs + 0.5yrs)
Job: Application SE
Income: $US7700/month before taxes (for last year; it should be 5-10% higher this year)
Expenses:
Taxes: $US1300/month
Rent: $US700/month (3-room aptmnt, 62m^2)
Car insurance: $US60/month
Life insurance: $US120/month
Telephone: $US40/month
ADSL: $US40/month
Food+clothes+staples: $US1000/month (Lumped together b/c that's what I give my wife)
'Toys': Depends, but ~$300/month is normal
Drinking: ~$US100/month
Misc: ~$US200/month
-----
Total expenses: ~$3860/month
I save the rest. We're planning on buying a house, but it looks like it'll cost us around $US450K.
Saving for retirement? (Score:3, Funny)
With the effect the stock market has had on my pension and endowment mortgage (I know, I know) my best option is to die before retirement age. Happily my lifestyle seems to support this plan, so everything may yet work out!
Grains of Salt (Score:2)
The easiest way to do that is to cut out unneeded expenses. A friend of mine who worked in credit counseling for a while said a majority of the people he talked to could make a lot of progress by getting rid of unneeded insuran
Gee, I'd like to reply but (Score:2)
See, as a Canadian, I worked in Canada until 1997, then left for the U.S. (Chicago, and Dallas). When the green card fizzled (mostly post 9/11/2001 INS delays -- I had my LC (twice)), I had to return.
So, I can offer data from Canada AND two U.S. cities -- and it is fascinating to compare them.
If I see a lot of replies here, I'll try to dig up the data over the next day or so, and respond.
Here's my breakdown (Score:2)
Married, no children. Wife has occasional income from website design. Own a home in central florida (Beautiful Kissimmee, near a lake)
Mortgage + insurance: $1270 (on $180k)
CCs minimum payments: $..60
Electricity.........: $ 160
Phone...............: $..20
Carpayment..........: $ 275 (One car owned, one financed)
Car insurance.......: $ 200 (Don't speed, kids. OUCH.)
Cellphones..........: $ 110
Cable + Internet....: $ 100
Eating out..........: $ 200 (Something to cut do
Here's mine (Score:2)
My apartment is $415 a month and includes all utilities. I live in a shitty neighborhood (That's Griffith, Indiana) but all the people in my building are lifelong residents, so things are good enough for me.
My credit cards are paid off. My car is paid off. My furniture is paid for.
I pay $40 a month for two landlines.
$100 a month for cell phone.
$25 a month for two lines worth of dialup internet (can't get a fast connection).
$300 a month on food (I eat
A bit of advice to anyone who will listen... (Score:2)
1. Learn to balance your checkbook correctly
2. Spend less than you take in, and
3. Get a savings account.
I cannot stress that last one *enough*. While the first two are very important as well (and believe me, if you aren't balancing your checkbook, and you don't *know* where money is going - once you learn how or figure it out it will be an eye opener - you will also find out how many places *give* you stuff, and never take the money out of yo
I'll go ahead and add mine (Score:2)
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Occupation: Software engineer
Married no kids
I pull in $4600/mo and my wife pulls in about $600/mo for $5200/mo (post-tax)
PreTax:
$200 401k
$100 health/dental/vision insurance
$$$$$ taxes
PostTax:
$1050 rent
$1000 savings (aka an emergency fund, working on building an 8month emergency fund since I'm in the tech market)
$500 car payment
$175 car:$150 + renters:$15 insurance
$100 gas
$100 phone(landline + cell + long distance)
$100 electricity
$100 pets(food+litt
UPDATE - how much would you have made ... (Score:2)
http://dod.mil/militarypay/
Just for giggles, lets assume that instead of going to college for (4-6 years) I went into the Navy right out of High School (age 17.) Am 35 now, that is 18 years. Figure above average promotion for most of us, given most of us thing we are above average.
Click on Pay and Allowances.
Click on Calculator
Click on Open the Regula
Not monthly income but sustainability of monthly i (Score:2)
Re:Well... (Score:3, Funny)
I don't like Portland either, but I wouldn't call it nowhere. I suppose it could just be an appartment in the middle of nowhere, not in Portland. In which case, you should probably consider getting rid of it.
Re:you asked: (Score:1)
True. $47k != house in CA (Score:2)
But two people making $40k-plus, and sharing living expenses, that might do it. So get married!
Norway for smartasses... (Score:2)
Re:the key: use a savings account (Score:3, Insightful)
The worst thing you can do, especially if you have a joint account with your gf/wife, is to lump everything into one checking account. Money will just disappear, and neither of you will know where it went.
My wife splits her paycheck - an agreed upon amount goes to checking to cover the monthly expenses, and the rest goes straight into her savings
Re:Mobile Money 2002 and my budget (Score:2)
Granted you only get to use this excuse once.