$1965 for oil? Does that include the cost of airfare to the middle east to pick it up?
Heating oil is expensive.
$1965 for oil? Does that include the cost of airfare to the middle east to pick it up?
$9,067.00 - Propety Tax
This kind of comedy is why I won't post my expenses here. The one and only time I did someone thought how much I spent on food was hilarious.$1965 for oil? Does that include the cost of airfare to the middle east to pick it up?
I really can't understand any of these low cost claims. If a couple can live on $30,000, theoretically then I should be able to live on 3/5 of that, or $18,000.
$9,067.00 - Property Tax
I have lived on $16,000 plus the P&I on my house for years. This past year since my house was paid off, I averaged much less (probably around $12,000) because nothing really broke and I had no big expenses.
Yet I buy everything I want, including art, expensive food, $125 running shoes, $16 socks, nice formal meeting clothes when needed for work, and a membership in the most expensive gym in the area.
What's my secret? Living in a paid off house in a less expensive part of the country is really helpful. Also, my self confidence and feelings of self worth are not tied to my possessions. And finally, I have a lot to do other than shop.
Ha, if you lived in a paid off house in a less expensive part of the country, you would probably spend much less. But living in an apartment in a coastal city makes you happy, and you can afford it, so why not?![]()
Everyone's circumstance is so different. With a mortage, DH, 2 kids, pets (1 dog, 2 cats, a hamster, and lizard - average monthly cost for pets is $175 for food, boarding, purchase, vet, etc) no way can we make it on $30k.
While I can project a budget for when house is paid for, kids leave, pet population is reduced, and income/taxes are reduced, it is somewhat of a frivolous exercise. ER plans anticipate that all current expenses will still be in place. If it ends up we have excess funds later, great - more traveling, but I can't/won't ER anticipating lower spending later because it makes it all too tight.
He already had electric/gas expenses of $1792. I assumed that covered heating costs.
This kind of comedy is why I won't post my expenses here. The one and only time I did someone thought how much I spent on food was hilarious.
ha
Yet I buy everything I want, including art, expensive food, $125 running shoes, $16 socks, nice formal meeting clothes when needed for work, and a membership in the most expensive gym in the area.
Oh, its not that bad. You should have seen the comments my expense list provoked. There are huge differences in costs form one part of the world to the next, and we move in different subcultures too. I wouldn't take questions/surprise as criticism.
I never have seen $125 running shoes in Walmart.But hey, you probably don't spend $250/mo at the local country club either.
If they make you happy, go for it.
Or, perhaps they do not want to realize that disparity because they really do not want to live elsewhere, or at a lower expense.
Our choices matter on several levels - - expense is one thing, but some people value other attributes of a place more. Nothing wrong with that. But those living in expensive coastal areas should at least realize that they ARE making a choice.
Putting aside the personal choice component - i.e. what lifestyle people want and what are they willing to pay for it - there can be a big financial benefit to living in these expensive areas. My expenses are obscene, sure, but by any rational measure so is my income. A little LBYM here allows me to save A LOT more than I could in another situation.
Yeah, indeed. But then a lot of people move when they retire. Its not hard to find a Brooklyn accent in Florida, after all.
I want to maintain a link to NY in retirement, maybe spending 3-5 months a year here, and I'm willing to postpone my retirement for it. (to the ripe old age of 45, if necessary).
I just will not pay 125 for running shoes and I run upwards of 70 miles a week! I go through them so fast. Found a fantastic pair of Mizunos yesterday on sale for 59 dollars reg price was 95, ugly color but hey great price and they fit!
Sounds like a great plan! My "early retirement" (if you can call it that) will be at age 61.5 so I'm just not willing to work a minute longer than that. If I planned to retire in NYC I'd have to work until I was 106 to afford it!![]()
I always shop for my running shoes when I don't need them yet...that way, I can shop the sale racks and get 1-2 pairs "ahead" of them wearing out. I usually go through about 2 pairs a year so I always know there will be a need for another pair in the future.
There is probably a NY law that prevents the truly frugal/cheap bastards/not making the big bucks folks from posting or letting their secrets out of the bag. Memory says - housing/rent was the big dog way back in 1971. Solve that - and you had a shot at frugal.
When I had a chance to spend a week in SF on business later this year, I managed to weasel my way out of it and I was glad I did.