Monthly average expenses for a family of three in orange county (Irvine: rent, insurance)

[nurserosie]

Originally Posted by KALAFAT

Thanks BRinSM and drshang,
My wife won't be able to work since she will come as an H1b dependent (H4). That is a big problem but at least we can save a little bit on taxes filling jointly. As far as I know I am supposed to pay as much taxes as a US citizen.
UC system offers a nice package of benefits including health care insurance. I am not sure but I think that UC and employee shares the cost 50-50%.

as for healthcare costs at UC...am not sure..but it likely is a couple hundred dollars a month for a family of three..with attendant deductibles and copays..actually that is pretty standard...share of costs I mean..

[nurserosie]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

i'm low level management as is my wife and our premiums are covered 100% by our current employers as well as previous employers. even if we weren't in management it wouldn't cost us anything. I know others in the same situation.

as for taxes, i my have over estimated. i was applying my unfortunate circumstances to your situation. a non working wife and child will lower your tax liability significantly. for those of us with no kids, no houses, and two similar incomes, we're screwed and pay closer to 1/3 of our gross income. sorry for the scare. however, i'm not sure if your non-resident status affects anything. you may want to discuss with a cpa or tax attorney.

am in the healthcare field for many years...even Kaiser Permanente which DOES pay full premiums for their employees that fit the hours worked criteria..still pay copays for visits and drugs...tho not a large amount

am curious what companies pay 100% and have little or no share of costs...likely it is HMO coverage..which many doctors and providers no longer accept..plus drugs are likely limited to generics on their formulary..plus with HMO you cannot decide for instance to jump the fence and insist upon going to UCLA or Loma Linda if you need say a heart or liver transplant..

we have NEVER had HMO coverage...I insist upon total choice..when hubby was working (as CEO of international company)...yes we paid NO premiums..tho we did have copays for visits and meds...I felt it was a bargain..

once we both retired at age 60..we purchased coverage...luckily we did..first COBRA,,then extended COBRA (which has since been limited in how many months you can stay on it)...we were paying outrageous monthly premiums (waiting til age 65 for Medicare)..we had one year where our monthly was 1800 a month..yep you read that right!!...ironically ..in those 5 years hubby had heart attack,,angioplasty , stents,,and then open heart...when we saw what the hospital and doctors charged (which we did not have to pay)...we sorta felt we got our money's worth..now he is 71 and I 66,,,our Medicare part B costs 98 bucks a month..and we have supplementals..his is 255 a month ,,and mine is 185 (goes up with age)...do the math..just paying premiums is a lot of money...again..as a healthcare professional I always insist..and pay for..PPO coverage to give me total choice...

sorry for the rant..one of my pet peeves as you can guess

[KALAFAT]

thanks to all for all the informations and recommendations that you provided !
does anybody know if there are some sample budgets pointing different expense items in internet ??

cheers

[nurserosie]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

i'm low level management as is my wife and our premiums are covered 100% by our current employers as well as previous employers. even if we weren't in management it wouldn't cost us anything. I know others in the same situation.

as for taxes, i my have over estimated. i was applying my unfortunate circumstances to your situation. a non working wife and child will lower your tax liability significantly. for those of us with no kids, no houses, and two similar incomes, we're screwed and pay closer to 1/3 of our gross income. sorry for the scare. however, i'm not sure if your non-resident status affects anything. you may want to discuss with a cpa or tax attorney.

if you do a quick google search...approx 77% of Americans are paying premiums for healthcare thru their employers...some areas of the county do indeed pay all of the premiums...Ca is not one of them...

would be curious what companies and where located...

again..just a suggestion as to how to prepare for costs here in Ca

UC system does not pay 90 percent .that I know..

[naeemkittur]

Hi All,

This thread has been very very helpful in arriving at a rough monthly expenses figure for myself. I'm scheduled to move from Bangalore, India to Aliso Viejo starting December 2011.
After reading all your posts on the thread I have put down a rough estimate of the expenses that a family of 2 Adults and 1 kid might incur.

1. Apartment $1500 (Single bedroom apartment)
2. Car insurance $150 (Average Car insurance)
3. Gas and Car Maintenance $150 (Average Car Fuel and Maintenance expenditure)
4. Utilities $300 (internet, cable, landline, gas and electric, trash and sewage)
5. Grocery $800 (Expenditure for 2 Adults and 1 Kid)
6. Mobile Phone $65 (monthly cell phone charge for 1 cell phone)
7. Schools ??? (For an elementary school)
8. Tax Federal 13% (Average Tax - Single earner filing joint)
9. Tax State 5% (Single earner filing joint)
10.Tax Social Security/medicare 7%
11.Tax California disability 1%

I would be a great help if someone can help me answer the following questions
1. Are these figures a correct estimate of the expenses?
2. How much would I be spending on schooling of my daughter (she is 3 yrs 4 months now in Sept)?
3. Have I missed any other component in the expenses?

Your help would be truly appreciated.

Thanks

[nurserosie]

Originally Posted by naeemkittur

Hi All,

This thread has been very very helpful in arriving at a rough monthly expenses figure for myself. I'm scheduled to move from Bangalore, India to Aliso Viejo starting December 2011.
After reading all your posts on the thread I have put down a rough estimate of the expenses that a family of 2 Adults and 1 kid might incur.

1. Apartment $1500 (Single bedroom apartment)
2. Car insurance $150 (Average Car insurance)
3. Gas and Car Maintenance $150 (Average Car Fuel and Maintenance expenditure)
4. Utilities $300 (internet, cable, landline, gas and electric, trash and sewage)
5. Grocery $800 (Expenditure for 2 Adults and 1 Kid)
6. Mobile Phone $65 (monthly cell phone charge for 1 cell phone)
7. Schools ??? (For an elementary school)
8. Tax Federal 13% (Average Tax - Single earner filing joint)
9. Tax State 5% (Single earner filing joint)
10.Tax Social Security/medicare 7%
11.Tax California disability 1%

I would be a great help if someone can help me answer the following questions
1. Are these figures a correct estimate of the expenses?
2. How much would I be spending on schooling of my daughter (she is 3 yrs 4 months now in Sept)?
3. Have I missed any other component in the expenses?

Your help would be truly appreciated.

Thanks

not sure about most of your predictions...except I doubt you will spend 800 a month on groceries!!...we have many "big box" stores ie Costco..where yes the quantities are larger (can be a storage issue)..but they have all kinds of "bargains" in fresh meat, poultry, fish..produce..and a lot of choice in frozen stuff, cereal etc...
have also discovered lately that Target..yeah Target..esp those called "super Targets)...have now added food..have compared prices to local supermarkets..often find a 1 dollar difference (lower) than my fave grocery store (which is Albertsons BTW..cheaper than Ralphs)...Target has all kinds of dry ie cereal..that is much cheaper than supermarkets..

we also have a lot of fresh produce places...the produce can be a bit pricier than the supermarkets..but is better usually..have learned to avoid buying basics like milk and bread there (cheaper at Target!!)

good luck...sounds like you have figured out our tax system (good luck)...
curious what you found out about health insurance costs?? try and keep to PPO if you can...
am a pro at health ins questions..again..HMO is cheaper but many providers are starting not to take it...with the exception of Kaiser...worked for them for 20 years...in OC we gave excellent care..they recently built a new hospital..clinics everywhere for non inpatient care..and excellent docs ..

again good luck

[purplerain112]

Originally Posted by naeemkittur

Hi All,

This thread has been very very helpful in arriving at a rough monthly expenses figure for myself. I'm scheduled to move from Bangalore, India to Aliso Viejo starting December 2011.
After reading all your posts on the thread I have put down a rough estimate of the expenses that a family of 2 Adults and 1 kid might incur.

1. Apartment $1500 (Single bedroom apartment)
2. Car insurance $150 (Average Car insurance)
3. Gas and Car Maintenance $150 (Average Car Fuel and Maintenance expenditure)
4. Utilities $300 (internet, cable, landline, gas and electric, trash and sewage)
5. Grocery $800 (Expenditure for 2 Adults and 1 Kid)
6. Mobile Phone $65 (monthly cell phone charge for 1 cell phone)
7. Schools ??? (For an elementary school)
8. Tax Federal 13% (Average Tax - Single earner filing joint)
9. Tax State 5% (Single earner filing joint)
10.Tax Social Security/medicare 7%
11.Tax California disability 1%

I would be a great help if someone can help me answer the following questions
1. Are these figures a correct estimate of the expenses?
2. How much would I be spending on schooling of my daughter (she is 3 yrs 4 months now in Sept)?
3. Have I missed any other component in the expenses?

Your help would be truly appreciated.

Thanks

Are you planning to bring a car over?

[naeemkittur]

Originally Posted by nurserosie

not sure about most of your predictions...except I doubt you will spend 800 a month on groceries!!...we have many "big box" stores ie Costco..where yes the quantities are larger (can be a storage issue)..but they have all kinds of "bargains" in fresh meat, poultry, fish..produce..and a lot of choice in frozen stuff, cereal etc...
have also discovered lately that Target..yeah Target..esp those called "super Targets)...have now added food..have compared prices to local supermarkets..often find a 1 dollar difference (lower) than my fave grocery store (which is Albertsons BTW..cheaper than Ralphs)...Target has all kinds of dry ie cereal..that is much cheaper than supermarkets..

we also have a lot of fresh produce places...the produce can be a bit pricier than the supermarkets..but is better usually..have learned to avoid buying basics like milk and bread there (cheaper at Target!!)

good luck...sounds like you have figured out our tax system (good luck)...
curious what you found out about health insurance costs?? try and keep to PPO if you can...
am a pro at health ins questions..again..HMO is cheaper but many providers are starting not to take it...with the exception of Kaiser...worked for them for 20 years...in OC we gave excellent care..they recently built a new hospital..clinics everywhere for non inpatient care..and excellent docs ..

again good luck

@nurserosie - Thanks for that wonderful list of stores whereby I can reduce my monthly grocery bills. The only reason for pitting my Grocery bills at 800 was that Indian produce (suiting the Indian pallette) might be a bit pricey !!!
About the health insurance. I'm working for a global IT giant and they will be taking care of mine and my family's healthcare (copays and some incidentals might be going out of my pocket though) but could you please let me know out of your experience how much might I be spending on schooling for my daughter ??? and also are the indicative $ figures that I have put up good enough ???

[naeemkittur]

Originally Posted by purplerain112

Are you planning to bring a car over?

@purplerain - No I cannot bring my car over from India. I'd be planning to buy a car locally. Would my car associated costs and other costs be good enough for me and my family ???

[Bideshi]

Originally Posted by KALAFAT

1/3 of the gross income !!!! This is crazy, rise a little bit more, you reach the tax rates in Denmark, Norway... where you spend not even one cent for health, childcare and education of children among other services for having paid high tax rates.
Is this the fixed rate including one person working couples with one child ?
A huge bite out from the income...

Welcome to the USA.