<p>FootballBanker considering you are still in school making 45k I would say is a lot? Are you undergrad? What is your major and who do you work for? What school do you go to? Do you go to school part time and work full time?</p>
<p>I’m an undergrad, Majoring in Business but i haven’t decided if I’m going to have a concentration or not. I used to go to University of Idaho playign football but I’m at a JC right now to finish some requirements and I’m stilld deciding where I want to transfer. I’ll most likely go to aState school or a UC. As far as schedule it depends. This past summer I took 3 classes. I want to stay in that sweet spot. I would take 4 if its a easy class or if its online in the regular semester but most likely 3. My situation is difficult because I keeop moving around the country for my company. I just moved to SoCal but might end up moving again to Portland to take a better position.</p>
<h2>OdysseyTigger, where do you get your figures from about the cost of living? Who spends $1000 a month food? How do you know how much his car payment is? I drive a 2010 Camaro and my payment is $350. I pay rent, utilities, gas, food, all the expenses except car insurance. I’m saving about $500 a month and I still live comfortably on about $45k a year. ~ Footballbanker</h2>
<p>$1,000 per month on food for a typical family isn’t all that outrageous. Especially not if you add in things like formula or household items, including diapers.</p>
<p>It’s definitly high though.</p>
<h2>plscatamacchia mentioned he and his wife are nurses correct? So thats a 6 figure income between the 2 of them. SO, lets re calculate here according to your phantom #'s. They make about $70k after taxes. Thats roughly $5800/month. Subtract your $1k for rent and housing costs, 1k for food/entertainment, and $700 for car costs. That gives us $3100 saved between the two of them whichs is about $9300 after 3 months. I’d say thats plenty of money for a vacation. Lets say the vacation to brazil did cost what according to you probably $1500 thats still about $7500 extra between the two of them over 3 months. That looks like a pretty nice emergency fund to me By the end of the year they will have roughly $15000 after allt he expenses you named. ~ Footballbanker</h2>
<p>If this is 100% directed at the poster and I missed some info I apologize, but this budget is extremely simplistic.</p>
<p>I mean $1,000 per month for housing? Sure, if you live in an apartment, but what couple with kids wants to do that? </p>
<p>A mortgage, even on a family starter home is going to be about $1,000/per month, in some locations MUCH higher. Then, you add your property taxes and utilities. So let’s say $1,500 per month, which is conservative. Let’s not forget that utilities in a home will be much higher than a single bedroom apartment.</p>
<p>Plus, you forgot to factor in a major expense - debt. Whether it be student loans, credit cards, previous health issues, or repairs to your home/vehicle.</p>
<p>Let’s also add in two cell phones, cable and internet.</p>
<p>If you have kids that changes everything - especially if you have daycare. So let’s throw in $500 - $1,000 per month for daycare, depending on your area.</p>
<p>Then, add in $100/per month for hidden costs of owning a home - basic up keep. Black-topping the driveway, lightbulbs, broken toilet, garbage disposal, new lawnmower, landscaping, ect. Keep in mind it can run much higher.</p>
<p>Gas for a 1 hour each way commute daily. </p>
<p>Gotta save for retirement, kiddies want to go to college someday too, CRAP - your son wants to play hockey! Oh no, parents are getting older with health issues, and you need to start making trips back home, round trip flight $250/twice a month. </p>
<p>Say what? That prescription costs how much per month? $100 every two weeks? BUT I HAVE AWESOME HEALTH COVERAGE!!!</p>
<p>Snow tires, crap - I hate living in the North East, $300.</p>
<p>“Ummm, so you’re telling me that I need two procedures, but I can’t have one before the other…and you don’t cover the one that has to be done first?”</p>
<p>“Guess what honey! Shawna is getting married and I’m going to be in the wedding…it’s gonna be in Mexico, isn’t that AWESOME!!”</p>
<p>“Sure Phil, I will buy $20 worth of your son’s carmel corn to support Troop 55 and donate an additional $50 to send an underprivledged scout to camp. BTW Phil, while you’re here…you know that giant oak tree of yours that fell over in last weeks thunderstorm. Yeah, well since it fell on MY property, I have to pay $400 to have it removed…so I was thinking we could work something out. Oh, you and Cheryl are a bit strapped for money right now?”</p>
<p>"Yeah, Hi…I’m an existing policy holder, and my home owners doesn’t cover flooding, I’d like to supplement my coverage with a flood policy. Wait, what? You can’t receive flood insurance in this area?</p>
<p>8 months later - guess what?</p>
<p>That seems like a good argument from staying away from the fairer sex.</p>
<p>I’m not a nurse, I’m not married and I don’t have kids. I have had to explain those posts before and I’m not doing it in detail again. Look it up if you want like that other stalker.</p>
<p>plscatamacchia keeps changing his stories and obviously doesn’t know what he is talking about, we should disregard all his posts because his input on this discussion is useless and his argument is pointless.</p>