Expenses & Jobs - Tell Us!

crouchingcheese · Jul 15, 2007

Alright, I work in Retirement Plans, and my fiance is a Grinder.

I pay the bulk of the bills (even though I make less) and basically, his responsibility is the car payments and insurance, and the phone/internet.

So here's my breakdown:

Due middle of the month:
Credit Cards (2 of them) = $78
College Loan = $50
House Gas bill = $101
Retirement Fund = $25
Netflix = $17
Cell Phone = $45
Electric = $30
Gas for cars = $100
Food = $100

Total = $486, leaves me with about $109, which then gets applied to the end of the month bills:

Due end of the month:
House payment = $250
Lot Rent = $188
Retirement Fund = $25
Gas for cars = $100
Food = $100

Total = $663, which means the total left over money is about $160, but somehow, that seems to be spent along the way on misc things like clothes, shoes, emergency rushes to the store, pet food, etc.

Now for the Fiance:

This is a monthly thing, he usually does his bills weekly.
My car payment = $240
His car payment = $409
My insurance payment = $190
His insurance payment = $240
Phone/Internet = $72

Total for him: $1,151, which leaves him with $767.78 left over every month.

This leftover savings is getting saved for our wedding and honeymoon, and he wants to pay off my car early.

All in all, we live comfortably, but not extravagently. We both commute to work, about 45 minutes each way, but that's what we do to live in the country.

gailc · Jul 15, 2007

DH is a controller for a mfg company and I am self employed. Since I am seasonal with my business and only my second year I'm not sure what I will be making for the year as of yet!!
Since we've been married we have been (ok maybe not me) big savers so
we have no mrtge as we paid it off in 14.5 years instead of the 30 yrs.

Expenses:

Home equity line of credit about $22k or 600/month for our farm property
Phone: $40 (my cell phone get paid by my business)
Electric:$60-$90/month depending on time of year
Internet: $10
Credit card:s we pay it in full every month so range is $400-$1000. This will include gas0/week easily depending on where I am working) (which can run us $8 and all sorts of misc stuff!!
Groceries: $300-$400 including toiletries
Home owners insurance $50/month
Garbage: $15/month
Newspapers/magazine subscriptions $15/month

Auto and health insurance deducted from DH's paycheck automatically

Our income dropped about 20% after my downsizing. But we still try to save $2500-$3000/month. We aren't real extravagant with our lifestyle and pay cash for large purchases. No plans for new vehicles in the short term (car is 18 months old and truck is five years old)

bonnie1965 · Jul 15, 2007

I am underpaid and a recent college graduate so am hoping to have a better paying job soon. For now, this is how things stack up:

Rent: $481
Electric: $25
Natural gas: $15
Cat food/litter $45 or so
Transit pass $66
Food: $200 apprx
Internet: $50
Cell: $55

Take home: $1,020.00
Whatever is left has lately gone to the vet - usually goes to the three sponsorships I have.

Know I'm forgetting something. I have no savings/retirement, have no health insurance and haven't yet started paying on student loans. I'm in trouble

I fantasize about making $35K a year

gingersmom · Jul 16, 2007

My expenses are equal to or greater than my income, depending on the month/year.

As my income has risen over the years, so have my expenses. And please forgive me for wanting to keep my financial information private, as it really is only my business and no one else's.

I work in sales and marketing for a living, 45+ hours a week.

fostermomm · Jul 16, 2007

Rent: $500 (2 bedroom apartment, includes everything)
Phone: $30
Groceries: $200
Car: $100 (gas & repairs)
Cats: $50
Ari things: $200
Misc. Expenses: $100

So total around $1,180 a month

I work at a local petstore mostly doing their paperwork and sometimes cashier. I make 1,213 a month. So I was pushing it close. But now Im getting $550 a month in Child support.

trixie23 · Jul 16, 2007

My bf was a machinist at a factory, now he is in the parts department (at the same company of course)... He works for the union so he gets overtime, time-and-a-half, double time, and triple time... He makes almost $10 an hour more than I do... They get merit raises all the time. Of course it has some downfalls, alot of employees bump other employees off 1st shift (if they have higher senority) which is a bummer because in the past I hardly ever saw my bf because he got bumped to second shift.

As for me I am a receptionist at a printing company unfortunately... I do NOT get paid near enough to live (totally taken advantage of and for granted). I pay almost $300 in gas each month just to get 2 and from work (I live an hour away), my boss hasnt givin me a raise in almost 2 years (when I started) he more or less stated he doesnt care if I have the means to live (money-wise) he is a real bleep! The only reason I stay here is for health insurance (I have many health issues), it is not physically demanding, and because hours are flexible (if I need to go to a doc appointment it is no issue)...

My monthly expenses are: Car Payment ($235), Car Insurance ($90), Renters Insurance (varies), Cell Phone Bill ($90), Rent (if I have enough left to give to the bf... Rent is $810), Cat Supplies (food, water, litter, toys, etc), Hair Supplies for the bf and I (because I am a licensed Barber/Cosmetologist I get things at wholesale... meaning only I can get it, and pay for it), Body Wash, Shaving Cream, Percriptions, Doc Bills, Groceries (if I have enough to help), Credit Card, etc....

My bf on the other hand has no car payment (he has a gsxr 750 crotch rocket, and no car... my car is our community vehicle till he gets a car... arrrrr)... But he pays: Usually the full rent, Motorcycle/Car Insurance, Cable/Roadrunner, Cell Phone bill, Electric bill, Groceries (if I cannot help), Gas, and Fish Food/Supplies....

I live paycheck to paycheck.... and I am only paid once every 2 weeks... by the time payday comes around I usually only have maybe $30 to my name!

Im barely getting by, without the bf I would be screwed... We are getting by but barely, that is how it always is for me. I dont have a mommy/daddy who can bail me out if I get in a financial jam, so I gotta try to be as organized and responsible as possible.

I dont want to say how much I make because it is insulting to myself and embarrassing! It wouldnt be so bad if I claimed different on my taxes and wasnt in a 401k plan... Rapes me!

natalie_ca · Jul 16, 2007

I'm really surprised at how many people are willing to share such deeply personal information such as their detailed finances on a discussion forum on the internet.

I'm leary of giving out that kind of information because there is no such thing as annonymity on the internet. If you have the tools and the know how it's not hard to find out someone's IP address and track them right to their computer and steal credit card and bank information, or even to their front door and rob them blind.

I saw on one of those crime shows that there are some people who make it their living to comb the net looking for victims

I'd hate to see anyone here, or anywhere for that matter, become a victim because they felt safe sharing deeply, seemingly harmless, information about themselves.

I'll give you a bit of an example of what happened to me not all that long ago.

I ended up with a stalker that I had "met" on the internet. I say "met" because that is how we came into each others' lives. Years ago I used to play an online computer game. Through game play you get to know a number of people through their characters in the game. Sometimes you even carry those friendships out of the game into a chat program like ICQ or MSN. This is what happened with me.

As part of my game play I had an in game "business" where I made in game items or acquired in game resources and sold them in game to other players. As a result I got to know many people (actually their game characters) on the server I played on. I also got to know a number of people enough that we added each other to ICQ so that we could contact each other if we just wanted to hang out in the game or go monster hunting.

One guy became fixated on me in the game and in ICQ. I won't go into detail because the story is long and the details not really relevant, but let's just say that with a few bits of basic information (ISP email address, first name, unlisted telephone number, city I lived in which has over 700,000 people, and the type of work that I did) that he used the tools that he had available to him as a US Marine working in communications, to find out not only my full name, but my Social Insurance Number, Driver's License Number, where I worked and my home address.

That guy stalked me on the net and in my life for almost 5 months. The police couldn't do anything because he never "did anything" specific. All he did was make veiled threats or comments with meanings that he knew I would pick up on. Oh, and he even had is ex girl friend join in on his stalking venture.

I ended up having to change my email address, ICQ number and telephone number. In the computer game I changed servers and created brand new characters with new names, made a ruse of advertising my game account for sale and having a friend "bid" on it. All in an attempt to lose myself. I almost moved because for months I was afraid to leave my home and everyone that I saw on the street that remotely looked like him sent me into a panic.

So you see, it's not just something that happens to other people. It can happen to anyone, and with very little information given out.

lunasmom · Jul 16, 2007

That's very true Natalie. Most of the common criminals (i.e. bank robbers and such) are finding that the Internet is a very handy tool for obtaining a lot of money without doing too much.

Remember, we don't really know each other...most of us are who we say we are, but its very easy to be someone else on forums. Plus with all the meetups that normally occur during the summertime, do you really know who you're meeting with (especially those of us that are single).

This is more or less like reciting your credit card number and expiration date over the phone in a public place. You don't know who is listening or watching

trixie23 · Jul 16, 2007

Well they can try to take my money if they want because I dont have any... Ha... Good luck moochin off this girl! Besides i didnt list the cost of all my bills... Mainly the car stuff, which Ill tell the cost if anyone asks... Oh and I shared my rent... All the other stuff is personal, I wont share my hourly or my bf's... Or my medical expenses... Im not really worried about it, tho it is a good point being made!

mybabyphx · Jul 16, 2007

Well, I just moved so we haven't got all the bills figured out... I'll just give a guess at some of them. I am a receptionist for a locksmith company. Right now my boyfriend and our room mate are looking for jobs... they were working as telemarketers but got laid off.

Nice timing as we JUST got a 3 bedroom house! Anyways...

$1100 a month rent 3 bedroom house
$300 electricity(when winter comes this price will go down)
$250 food (for the humans

)
$40 PHX's food, litter, toys,etc
$150 gas for my car (they don't have cars)
$106 a month for car insurance
$50 student loan for me
$200 misc. items

$?? water/trash (I have no clue how much this will be)
TOTAL: Around $2300 a month in bills

I make about $2400 a month BEFORE taxes are taken out.... so as you see we probably don't even make enough to pay bills. We struggle... we live paycheck to paycheck. But hey, we have food, shelter, and other necassay things to live!

It will get better... (I hope!)

Once my boyfriend and our roommate get jobs... we will take the bills and everyone will have to pay 1\\3 of the bills... so instead of me paying the whole $2300 a month- I will only have to pay around $775

On my list of things I will need is cable, buy a computer, internet, etc so we will eventually have more bills...

ping · Jul 16, 2007

I don't mind saying what my expenses are or how much we make (or lack there of). Its not like I am giving out my full name, address, bank name, social and account number. Those things I won't do but saying how much I pay in rent does not sound like a big issue.

natalie_ca · Jul 16, 2007

Originally Posted by Ping

I don't mind saying what my expenses are or how much we make (or lack there of). Its not like I am giving out my full name, address, bank name, social and account number. Those things I won't do but saying how much I pay in rent does not sound like a big issue.

It can be a big issue. You would be surprised at what your rent and other expenses say about you.

People who pay higher rents, have more expenses, high car payments, usually have higher paying jobs. Meaning they have nicer stuff.

Just like your postal or zip code is a good indicator of your general income level. It's often something that is gathered by marketing companies in order to guage where to send junk mail and flyers etc.

ping · Jul 16, 2007

Then I am in good shape. I have cheap rent, no car payments (buy cheap buy used), and not a lot of people in my area make big money. People making big money is few and far between here.

gingersmom · Jul 16, 2007

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

Just like your postal or zip code is a good indicator of your general income level. It's often something that is gathered by marketing companies in order to guage where to send junk mail and flyers etc.

We in the direct marketing industry like to call it "direct mail."

gailc · Jul 16, 2007

mybabyphx;1886227 said:
Once my boyfriend and our roommate get jobs... we will take the bills and everyone will have to pay 1\\3 of the bills... so instead of me paying the whole $2300 a month- I will only have to pay around $775

Actually the financial experts recommend splitting bills according to the percentage of income everyone makes-its just more fair!!

kuntrykitty · Jul 16, 2007

[font= "Comic Sans MS"]I agree that is is very easy for somebody to find out who you are, you have to be extremely careful. I don't give out my e-mail address, MSN IM address, remote location, phone number, or stuff like that out. It's still easy to find me, I agree, but you take that risk everywhere you go, heck, the cashier at the Wal-Mart check out line can getcha'. This could easily turn into a debate, let's please not let it. If you feel uncomfortable posting your expenses and jobs, I won't make you, I respect your privacy. If you would like to tell me, I like reading about this stuff!

[/font]

gingersmom · Jul 16, 2007

Originally Posted by GailC

Actually the financial experts recommend splitting bills according to the percentage of income everyone makes-its just more fair!!

I think that's insane. It might work in a marriage, but not in a roommate situation. My roomie makes 1/4 of what I do, and I REFUSE to support him simply because he makes less money than I do.

Why should I have to pay for HIS lack of education?

We share a two-bedroom apartment, share the kitchen, the bathroom, he uses MY washer and dryer, and we split rent and utilities 50/50. THAT is fair, anything other than that would be completely UNfair.

Already, I'm not happy about paying half of the cable TV bill because the ONLY reason we have basic cable is so that HE can watch his silly wrestling. I'm happy with one local channel or DVDs. I usually read books rather than watch TV. Yet I pay 1/2 the cable bill every single month. Should I pay MORE than half just because I make more money? I hardly ever watch TV!

And conversely, I would have a huge problem with someone else taking over more than 50% of the bills that I am half responsible for - I would resent that very much, as I pay my own way in this world.

If you split the bills, it needs to be equitable. Salaries are NOT equitable.

trixie23 · Jul 16, 2007

Originally Posted by GingersMom

I think that's insane. It might work in a marriage, but not in a roommate situation. My roomie makes 1/4 of what I do, and I REFUSE to support him simply because he makes less money than I do.

Why should I have to pay for HIS lack of education?

We share a two-bedroom apartment, share the kitchen, the bathroom, he uses MY washer and dryer, and we split rent and utilities 50/50. THAT is fair, anything other than that would be completely UNfair.

Already, I'm not happy about paying half of the cable TV bill because the ONLY reason we have basic cable is so that HE can watch his silly wrestling. I'm happy with one local channel or DVDs. I usually read books rather than watch TV. Yet I pay 1/2 the cable bill every single month. Should I pay MORE than half just because I make more money? I hardly ever watch TV!

And conversely, I would have a huge problem with someone else taking over more than 50% of the bills that I am half responsible for - I would resent that very much, as I pay my own way in this world.

If you split the bills, it needs to be equitable. Salaries are NOT equitable.

This was recommended to my bf by a family friend, that he should have to pay more considering he has less monthly bills (well now they are about equal) than I do and because he makes double from what I do... I would pay half if I could (I use to) but we moved into an expensive place and I cant cut it... It is really frustrating (I can tell) for him to have that kind of pressure, but in the end what my income is to his... our bills equal out. Not saying it is right, I feel dependant (which I hate) but with my current situation getting a new job isnt so much an option at this point... Hopefully one day. In some S.O. or married situations this would work (and in my case it has caused arguements, and fighting over money really blows), but I wouldnt make such an arrangement with a roomate, unless maybe they are family (knowing they'd do the same for me) and it would be temporary till they could bring more mula to the table..

mybabyphx · Jul 16, 2007

Originally Posted by GingersMom

I think that's insane. It might work in a marriage, but not in a roommate situation. My roomie makes 1/4 of what I do, and I REFUSE to support him simply because he makes less money than I do.

Why should I have to pay for HIS lack of education?

We share a two-bedroom apartment, share the kitchen, the bathroom, he uses MY washer and dryer, and we split rent and utilities 50/50. THAT is fair, anything other than that would be completely UNfair.

Already, I'm not happy about paying half of the cable TV bill because the ONLY reason we have basic cable is so that HE can watch his silly wrestling. I'm happy with one local channel or DVDs. I usually read books rather than watch TV. Yet I pay 1/2 the cable bill every single month. Should I pay MORE than half just because I make more money? I hardly ever watch TV!

And conversely, I would have a huge problem with someone else taking over more than 50% of the bills that I am half responsible for - I would resent that very much, as I pay my own way in this world.

If you split the bills, it needs to be equitable. Salaries are NOT equitable.

Yeah That!!!!

kelly anne · Jul 16, 2007

$1280 -- feedstore -- 6:00 am to 2:00 pm
$320 -- aquatic petstore -- 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Rent: $575 (includes electric & water)
Cell Phone: $40
Phone, TV & Internet: $100
Groceries: $200
Gas: $180
Insurance: $80 (auto â€“ job pays health)
Critters (dry food, canned food, litter): $50
Miscellaneous & Incidentals: $100

Total Income: $1600
Total Expenses: $1325
After Expenses: $275

$75.00 to retirement fund
$25.00 to vet fund
$175.00 to saving

These rates are monthly. I think I live pretty well... I don't live paycheck-to-paycheck, I have nice living conditions, and I have enough left over to deposit into bank accounts, and the "kids" eat well too.

Expenses & Jobs - Tell Us!

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