Reply to Shocked: Our bare-bones monthly cost of living is 5K after taxes! What's yours?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][b]I think your outrage is making you blind. [/b]I've said already that DH travels for work so his expenses (including food) are paid by the company so 3 to 4 days a week we only have one adult eating in the house.

We're not calves so we don't drink gallons of milk. We occasionally drink rice milk and I cook using almond milk that I make myself as needed.

If you're interested in tips for saving on groceries there are several helpful websites with free information all over the Internet.

On the furniture - we've been living in furnished rentals for a while and in our previous home (3 years ago) we did have to buy furniture but it was 3 years ago! Who buys furniture every year?

Anyway, why are you all so angry? Just because people are spending money differently than you? That's such a weird reason to be angry... wow!

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]BTW, we don't have cable and DH's company pays our Internet and cellphone, just in case you're wondering. ;)

DC's PT are fully covered by our insurance so again it doesn't cost us a thing. Anythig else about MY bills you can think of?

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]You quoted me.

Last year, our only medical expense aside health insurance was $15 co-pay fir my first OB visit and $250 for my emergency C-section. 
This is our first real Christmas with a child so I'm not sure if we'll buy gifts or not. For my taste DC has enough. We don't have family in the coutry and don't exchange gifts with friends. Clear now?

I go to the grocery store once a week and spend on average $40. Just came back, BTW and spent $39 this trip. I'm not an extreme couponer but I do stock up when I see a good sale and clip coupons for things that we actually buy. I cook from scratch and our diet is different from most people we know (DH is vegetarian, DC is gluten/lactose intolerant and I'm gluten intolerant with food allergies). We eat a lot of fresh produce and rarely use substitutes.

We don't buy clothes every month and don't service our car every month so I just listed what we spend every month. Gas is around $100...
[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous] Hm let me see...

$1300 - rent
$400 - car payment
$90 - utilities
$300 - health insurance
$150 - groceries

That's all for us. Family of 3 with  #2 on the way.

We visit my country every other year, DH's country every other year and we take vacation in the US every year. The US vacations are usually very cheap because DH travels for work so among nights free in hotels, rental car points and flying miles we spend almost nothing. [/quote]

So you don't by clothes, or anything other than food? No Christmas presents? No...anything? I thought OP was talking about what she actually spends each month, and everyone else is leaving out all of this shit, as though they never have car break down, have a sick pet, get a hair cut, buy a baby shower gift, etc. [/quote][/quote]

Yes, we're clear. You did not factor in all of your monthly expenses. Got it.[/quote][/quote]

Life insurance?
Travel expenses averaged out by month?
Car repairs/gasoline average out by month?
Clothing expenses (purchases and cleaning) averaged out by month?
Entertainment/movies?
Furniture purchases?
Water/sewer? (if not part of rent)
Pets expenses?
Hair cuts?

Some of these may not apply, but others might. Many of us don't buy clothes EVERY month, and we can even go many months without purchases. But at some point, we have to get new shoes, and the kids outgrow their winter coats. Those are still expenses and have to be considered, even if they don't come frequently.

I know people are curious about how two adults can live on $150 of groceries a month. Does this really 90 meals? Do tell more details about what you're eating, where you're shopping, etc.[/quote][/quote]

I don't think people are "outraged" so much as simply not really believing you.  Either you are working some serious magic with the money, or you are not really accounting for what you are spending.  It just defies logic that you are feeding yourself, your baby, and your DH (even part-time) on $40/week.  We want to know what you are eating -- what foods you buy and how you make that last for 7 days worth of meals.  Heck, just buying toilet paper, shampoo and paper towels - plus a head of lettuce and a tomato - could take up your entire $40 for the week.  How do you fit in household items, like cleaners and paper products? Are you growing some of your own food?  Almonds these days cost $10/pound, so even making your own almond milk is $$$$.  Seriously, how are you doing it?   [/quote]

I agree PP: honey, vanilla, and almonds (ingredients for almond milk) are all expensive... I try not to spend more than $40 on food a DAY and I often don't succeed! If this woman is for real, I would really like to know her tricks because I could learn something from her![/quote]

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