Orlando makes the list of the 5 Fastest growing cities of 2013 (Davie: appointed, lease)

[HomesickFloridian]

Originally Posted by DavieJ89

I cook at home a lot and often bring food to work I very rarely eat out, & when I do it's abt once a week at a place like Chipotle or Five Guys so its usually around $10

I cook a lot too now that I have children, it's much cheaper and much healthier especially shopping at stores like Publix and the like, it only takes an educated eye to avoid the unhealthy foods at ANY store..

[jwuk45]

Orlando is very far from being a proper functioning city. 1% of people in Orlando use public transport. I've spent 10 years using it and the only people I see on there are poor minorities and mentally unstable people. No-one else uses it, and not surprising since you usually have to walk a mile (in 100 degree weather) to catch a bus, and if you miss that bus you have to wait an hour for the next one, and then when you get that one it takes 30 minutes just to get to the nearest grocery store because the place is so huge. The Sunrail is happening next year, but it's going to make very little difference. Most of the people I know in Orlando are in their 30s and they have literally NEVER used public transport. Some haven't even used a taxi. I had a friend who walked 10 miles home from a bar one night because she lost her ride and didn't know how to get a taxi. It's ludicrous. And of course no-one walks anywhere because it's too hot and there are limited sidewalks (maximum of one side per road in most streets I've been on).

[Standard Staples]

Originally Posted by HomesickFloridian

Average my backside, based on WHAT vehicle? and what interest rate??

Those figures aren't as wild as they seem. New cars can get much better financing terms, but reliable used cars have a cheaper purchase price. Running a few examples will help make the case:

$25,000 new car. 48 month financing @ 0.00% = $494.58/month
$20,000 used car. 48 month financing @ 2.49% = $404.01/month
$15,000 used car. 48 month financing @ 2.49% = $287.89/month

Average = $395.49/month

Obviously, the rates, duration and purchase price can fluctuate, but strong credit can obtain 0.00% on a new car. 2.49% on a used vehicle is fairly conservative, as well, and many average buyers wouldn't get that low of a rate. Cheaper cars and more expensive cars are obviously available, but I think this represents a pretty average part of the car buying curve. I wouldn't personally want to have a $400/month car payment, but stating that as an overall average is probably not far off.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by HomesickFloridian

Average my backside, based on WHAT vehicle? and what interest rate??

New Car Buyers Stretching Out Payments

[Standard Staples]

Originally Posted by annerk

You make a lot of assumptions, particularly about car payments, insurance, gas, etc.

Until I changed jobs I used less than $200 a month in gas driving 40 miles r/t a day. A solid pre-owned vehicle can have a car payment of under $200 a month. So that's $250 a month less than you suggest.

A $40 water bill--even with a washer and dryer is nuts. We don't spend that in a month for three adults and two large dogs. Closer to $25 on average. Electric for a small apartment shouldn't be more than $65 per month on average. I eat very healthy foods--nothing processed at all. mostly lean meats, fish, and fresh vegetables, and can easily feed myself on $75 a week at the most. There's another $75 saved.

My numbers are $325 lower than yours, that assumes a car payment, which isn't always a necessity. A lot of people buy solid cars and drive them for 10+ years, meaning no car payment after the first couple of years.

+1 on the groceries. The two of us can get out of the grocery store for $300/month or so, and that includes a cart of almost exclusively lean beef, chicken, fish, fresh vegetables and possibly some cheese and natural peanut butter.

$39,000/yr is not a hefty sum of money. However, as annerk seems to be pointing out, with proper planning and a lifestyle in line with your income, it's a very liveable amount of money. Savings can be found in almost anything if you dig deep enough.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by Standard Staples

+1 on the groceries. The two of us can get out of the grocery store for $300/month or so, and that includes a cart of almost exclusively lean beef, chicken, fish, fresh vegetables and possibly some cheese and natural peanut butter.

$39,000/yr is not a hefty sum of money. However, as annerk seems to be pointing out, with proper planning and a lifestyle in line with your income, it's a very liveable amount of money. Savings can be found in almost anything if you dig deep enough.

I can hear my neighbors A/C running right now. I have the windows open on this gorgeous day. In the winter I heat to 66 at night, 68 during the day, opening and closing blinds to let in the sunshine and keep out the cold (I had the HVAC system completely off for 11 weeks this past winter.) I do the reverse in the summer, where my A/C sits at 78 during the day and 72 at night. For a ~3000 s/f house, my electric annually averages $150 a month.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by annerk

You make a lot of assumptions, particularly about car payments, insurance, gas, etc.

Until I changed jobs I used less than $200 a month in gas driving 40 miles r/t a day. A solid pre-owned vehicle can have a car payment of under $200 a month. So that's $250 a month less than you suggest.

A $40 water bill--even with a washer and dryer is nuts. We don't spend that in a month for three adults and two large dogs. Closer to $25 on average. Electric for a small apartment shouldn't be more than $65 per month on average. I eat very healthy foods--nothing processed at all. mostly lean meats, fish, and fresh vegetables, and can easily feed myself on $75 a week at the most. There's another $75 saved.

My numbers are $325 lower than yours, that assumes a car payment, which isn't always a necessity. A lot of people buy solid cars and drive them for 10+ years, meaning no car payment after the first couple of years.

Not really, despite the insinuation that your isolated example is the norm for everyone else. Not every car is gas economical, not every commute is short, not everyone uses their car to go/to from work and/or school (or just one job), not everyone lives someplace with low water rates (mine averages $45 with one adult in 1200 sq ft), the same goes for electrical rates and how energy efficient their home, appliances and a/c unit are (worth noting that rental communities aren't exactly known for that), the difference between $75 and $100 per week for groceries is pretty nominal and variable to say the least, the average car loan is $475 a month and most are at least 4 year loans, not just a couple years. Speaking of generalizations...

[annerk]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Not really, despite the insinuation that your isolated example is the norm for everyone else. Not every car is gas economical, not every commute is short, not everyone uses their car to go/to from work and/or school (or just one job), not everyone lives someplace with low water rates (mine averages $45 with one adult in 1200 sq ft), the same goes for electrical rates and how energy efficient their home, appliances and a/c unit are (worth noting that rental communities aren't exactly known for that), the difference between $75 and $100 per week for groceries is pretty nominal and variable to say the least, the average car loan is $475 a month and most are at least 4 year loans, not just a couple years. Speaking of generalizations...

The point is that people makes choices. Choose a 12 mpg SUV and then shut up. No one cares that they can't afford the gas to get to work. No one cares that the payment is killing them. That was their choice, and they made a stupid one. Don't cry to me about it.

[WhatUpFLA]

Originally Posted by Standard Staples

Those figures aren't as wild as they seem. New cars can get much better financing terms, but reliable used cars have a cheaper purchase price. Running a few examples will help make the case:

$25,000 new car. 48 month financing @ 0.00% = $494.58/month
$20,000 used car. 48 month financing @ 2.49% = $404.01/month
$15,000 used car. 48 month financing @ 2.49% = $287.89/month

Average = $395.49/month

Obviously, the rates, duration and purchase price can fluctuate, but strong credit can obtain 0.00% on a new car. 2.49% on a used vehicle is fairly conservative, as well, and many average buyers wouldn't get that low of a rate. Cheaper cars and more expensive cars are obviously available, but I think this represents a pretty average part of the car buying curve. I wouldn't personally want to have a $400/month car payment, but stating that as an overall average is probably not far off.

That's why you should lease!

[annerk]

Originally Posted by WhatUpFLA

That's why you should lease!

Leasing is stupid unless you can get a tax benefit from doing so. I bought a brand new Toyota Matrix for $20K in 2009. Financed for three years, 0% APR. Paid it off last summer. Expect to keep it for another 6-8 years. That's 6-8 years with no payment. If I had leased, I would either have had to lease another car or take a loan to buy it at the end of the lease--all that on top of what I had already paid. No thanks. Leasing keeps you in a never-ending payment cycle.