how much of my paycheck should I save each month? (insurance, broker)

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by Kefir King

I can't make the annual fee pay. For me, it is worth it only if I am buying a big ticket item.
But I am shopping a 65 inch TV so maybe a membership is in the cards again.

What about those free samples? With an unlimited metrocard and a membership, you can eat the equivalent of one meal a day (or more!) at Costco except for the holidays!

[safina1]

Originally Posted by Kefir King

I can't make the annual fee pay. For me, it is worth it only if I am buying a big ticket item.
But I am shopping a 65 inch TV so maybe a membership is in the cards again.

Are you talking about Costco? How much is the membership?

[SeventhFloor]

Originally Posted by safina1

Are you talking about Costco? How much is the membership?

$65 or $110, depending on what membership you sign up for.

I had the $110 membership before but I wasn't spending enough to make it work for me so I switched back to the $65.

[pierrepont7731]

Originally Posted by Kefir King

pierrepont,


Do the E. 117th St ALDI's I think you might be impressed with the prices...if not the "Organic." (Bring a quarter to unlock a cart.)

I read on their website that they take Visa, Mastercard, etc. Is that true? In one of the reviews I read, supposedly they only take debit cards? I'm aware of the quarter rule. I'm also bringing my own paper bags. Probably will just get some organic cereal and maybe a few snacks. The rest of the stuff I'd stick to Whole Foods for. Their veggie chips are not good at all.

Originally Posted by SeventhFloor

$65 or $110, depending on what membership you sign up for.

I had the $110 membership before but I wasn't spending enough to make it work for me so I switched back to the $65.

$65 is pretty hefty. I'm not sure I can justify that for pesto and meatballs. I can't think of anything I'd get there. I'd have to look more carefully because their organic selection has been growing. The meatballs are organic, but the pesto isn't but it's good quality from Italy. Just as good as the pesto from Whole Foods.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by pierrepont7731

I read on their website that they take Visa, Mastercard, etc. Is that true? In one of the reviews I read, supposedly they only take debit cards? I'm aware of the quarter rule. I'm also bringing my own paper bags. Probably will just get some organic cereal and maybe a few snacks. The rest of the stuff I'd stick to Whole Foods for. Their veggie chips are not good at all.

$65 is pretty hefty. I'm not sure I can justify that for pesto and meatballs. I can't think of anything I'd get there. I'd have to look more carefully because their organic selection has been growing. The meatballs are organic, but the pesto isn't but it's good quality from Italy. Just as good as the pesto from Whole Foods.

It's good if you buy in bulk household supplies and occasionally appliances and electronics. It's harder to justify if you're living alone and/or don't have a good amount of storage space.

[pierrepont7731]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

It's good if you buy in bulk household supplies and occasionally appliances and electronics. It's harder to justify if you're living alone and/or don't have a good amount of storage space.

I actually do buy Bounty, Cottonelle and such items and I just store them in the walk in closet, but for my apartment, usually a 12 roll does the job just fine and I get that in my area when it's on sale. I don't feel like schlepping that stuff from elsewhere though. If I took an Uber I'd cancel out any savings that I got.

[Marshabrady]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

It's good if you buy in bulk household supplies and occasionally appliances and electronics. It's harder to justify if you're living alone and/or don't have a good amount of storage space.

I love Costco for TP, PT, dish washing liquid, laundry detergents etc, prices are so much better than anywhere else I've seen.

[Mr.Retired]

O kay...............

You are missing one more variable for an exact answer.

38% of ___________= your answer.

In this example I am demonstrating an example on rental not home ownership.
If your take home pay is $100,000 a year that's $3,166 per month rent leaving you with $62,000 or $1,192 per week to utilize paying off utilities,car insurance ,food ,clothing,etc.....
If you are taking home $100,000 per year you should be comfortable and be able to set some monies aside as future savings.

If you make $50,000 per year that's $1,583.00 per month rent leaving you with $31,000 or $596 per week to utilize paying off utilities,car insurance ,food ,clothing,etc.....
If you are taking home $50,000 per year and live on a tight budget you just might squeak by. I don't think there will be room for future savings.

I have always been of opinion that if you want to live comfortably in NY you had better have an income of at least $100,000 a year in 2018.

[pierrepont7731]

Originally Posted by Marshabrady

I love Costco for TP, PT, dish washing liquid, laundry detergents etc, prices are so much better than anywhere else I've seen.

Do they carry any eco products at Costco? My uncle used to buy that Kirkland stuff from there back in the day. I had no idea growing up that it was Costco.
Figured it was some cheap knockoff brand. lol

[SeventhFloor]

We first joined Costco because we had a newborn and needed to start buying pampers.