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I was running some reports, I am a numbers guy and have every single expense dating back to 2006 recorded in Quicken But it's astonishing how much I have spent... here are some gems:
Average monthly over the last 65 months:
Eating out - $602
Groceries - $156
Vacations - $658
Rent - $1176
Motorcycles - $354
Fuel - $130
Entertainment - $56
Autos (including fuel, service etc.) - $347
Total average monthly expenditure - $3,918
Total average monthly net income - $6,672
Average savings rate: 41%
I still managed to save 41% of my income monthly which I think is OK, but could've done better. I think my expenditures are crazy, $750/mo. on Food? WTF? That is insane. I just eat out too much and spend a lot on alcohol (2-3 beers/day add up)
So, my case in point - I think I spend quite a bit but I still have a good buffer and no debt... I know people don't spend as much eating out, never take any vacations and have no hobbies, are DUAL income and yet are living paycheck to paycheck. What are they doing with their money?
I noticed you used the past tense (worked). Perhaps if you start putting forth all that effort you used to have, you wouldn't be complaining daily while ignoring all the spot on advice you've been given. If excuses were nickels, you'd be a millionaire.
Shrug. Medical appointments consume a lot of my weekday 9-to-5 time. I have neither a car nor a license to drive one. I have one job with weird hours and an employer willing to accommodate weird schedules.
You don't pay for utilities? Auto/motorcycle insurance?
Sometimes "utilities" are included in "rent" and not paid separately. In these cases, rent sometimes appears to be excessive while being perfectly reasonable when considering utilities.
Yep. The minute I see someone flashing their cash or talking about their extraordinarily high GPA or whatever, I know I am reading someone who is insecure and desperate for a little golf clap from the credulous among us.
still save? And, really, how stupid do you have to be to spend $600/month eating out?
Its not that unusual.. $100/weekend and eating lunch out 2 times a week at $15 a pop ($10 + tax + tips) is already $520/month, add in a girlfriend (none of my ex GFs paid for anything) and it ups the averages tremendously. You can easily see how the expenses add up.
As for the intent of the OP, it wasn't targeted to put down the poor... I threw out some #s and said I could save despite my high expenditures but others who spend less but still earn the same or are dual income seem to complain that they are unable to save.
I grew up in a Westinghouse carton under the interstate. My brother and I had to share the same clothes, so both of us only went to school 50% of the time. Despite all that, at age 23, I earned my Nobel prize in Economics. They were torn, because another committee also wanted to give it to me for Chemistry. They had fistfights in Stockholm over which committee would bestow the honor on me.
You should have reminded the Nobel Committee that it's OK to award the same person two Nobel Prizes in different fields. After all, Linus Pauling got them, and I think there were others. :-)
I grew up in a Westinghouse carton under the interstate. My brother and I had to share the same clothes, so both of us only went to school 50% of the time. Despite all that, at age 23, I earned my Nobel prize in Economics. They were torn, because another committee also wanted to give it to me for Chemistry. They had fistfights in Stockholm over which committee would bestow the honor on me.
I grew up in a Westinghouse carton under the interstate. My brother and I had to share the same clothes, so both of us only went to school 50% of the time. Despite all that, at age 23, I earned my Nobel prize in Economics. They were torn, because another committee also wanted to give it to me for Chemistry. They had fistfights in Stockholm over which committee would bestow the honor on me.
On the days you didn't go to school, you were westing in your Westinghouse? At least living under the interstate was an option for you. Where I live, freeway underpasses are being gated (!!!) to prevent people from living there. Sort of the opposite of a gated community, a gated NON-community.
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But it's astonishing how much I have spent... here are some gems:
That is insane. I just eat out too much and spend a lot on alcohol (2-3 beers/day add up)
