Oops. My previous post disappeared. I subtracted the wrong insurance, so I do come in at 492 per month average.
Roberta
of IL
@
Oct 29, 2009 21:11:22 PM
Ms
I subtracted the wrong insurance. I come in at $493. (Not counting food, gas, entertainment)
Roberta
of IL
@
Oct 29, 2009 21:09:15 PM
Ms
I have been structuring my bills with the intention of working as a travel health care worker. Living expenses do depend where you live and other factors. I live in a rural area where taxes are cheap, and paid cash for my house. There is no mortgage but I buy my own high-deductible health insurance.
Eight months have bills under 300 dollars; the 4 equinox months range from $1146 to $1620, due to purposeful clustering of insurance premiums.
My hat's off to Jason. Without health insurance, my bills come to $508 average.
Roberta
of IL
@
Oct 29, 2009 21:05:49 PM
$500/month budget
Good point. I think it depends a lot on where you live. Also how you live. Jacob lives in an RV.
Kimberly Palmer
of DC
@
Aug 05, 2009 11:23:20 AM
Not So Fast
I agree with being frugal. Since being laid off, I've been tracking my expenses monthly. I live very frugally myself but here are just my recurring monthly expenses. Unless you are going to live like a hermit in a one bedroom shared apartment and no insurance, you cannot live on $500 per month.
8/1/2009 $449.14 Mortgage
8/1/2009 $160.00 HOA Maintenance
8/1/2009 $90.00 Electric
8/1/2009 $35.00 Water
8/1/2009 $31.81 Phone
8/1/2009 $25.00 Cell
8/1/2009 $15.00 Broadband
8/1/2009 $7.49 Identity Guard
8/1/2009 $41.05 Long Term Health Care Insurance
8/1/2009 $125.00 Home Insurance
8/1/2009 $115.00 Auto Insurance
8/1/2009 $125.00 Real Estate Taxes
TOTAL just to start each month is $1219.49
These are real world numbers from someone who lives very frugally. I live in a home I've owned for 20 years. It does not include food, entertainment and other expenses.
I really don't see how one can do it much lower especially if you have kids.
M
of FL
@
Aug 04, 2009 16:46:02 PM
People with families
find penny-pinching a little harder to do.
Still, though, my wife and I probably have not bought a single full-priced item in a mall in the last 35 years. There are always bargains to be had at certain times.
Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, writes about how to save money, avoid scams, manage debt, and be a savvy shopper. Send your personal finance questions to her for expert money advice.
Roberta of IL @ Oct 29, 2009 21:11:22 PM
Roberta of IL @ Oct 29, 2009 21:09:15 PM
Roberta of IL @ Oct 29, 2009 21:05:49 PM
Kimberly Palmer of DC @ Aug 05, 2009 11:23:20 AM
M of FL @ Aug 04, 2009 16:46:02 PM
Muser of NM @ Aug 04, 2009 15:56:40 PM
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