Languish.org

General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 09:07:59 AM

Poll
Question: Read the thread title
Option 1: <1500 votes: 22
Option 2: 1501 - 2500 votes: 13
Option 3: 2501 - 4000 votes: 8
Option 4: 4001 - 6000 votes: 2
Option 5: > 6001 votes: 0
Option 6: I have no clue votes: 2
Title: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 09:07:59 AM
Okay, we've done the income thing. I'm wondering now what it costs for you to live. I'm NOT including variables like food, clothing, etc. I'm just curious to know what your housing, utilites, vehicles, and insurance cost you per month. This can include things like the weird taxes that Euros have to pay.

My family's monthly living expenses are ~2400/month. (That's gone up about $800 since Max got a job. For the last eight years our bills were in the $1500 - 1600/month range.)

EDIT: The amounts above are supposed to be in American dollars, so if you wouldn't mind doing the conversion before you vote..... :)
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 09:09:27 AM
More than I would like thanks to our stupid car payment and mortgage  :(
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Zanza on July 16, 2013, 09:13:18 AM
What is included in insurance? Health insurance is directly deducted from my payroll, so I don't really consider it a monthly bill. Without health insurance, I have fixed expenses for housing, utilities, communication, transport (don't own a vehicle), insurance etc. of less than 1000 Euro/month.

EDIT:
QuoteThis can include things like the weird taxes that Euros have to pay.
Must have missed that. What is a weird tax for you? Income tax? Social security contributions out of payroll?
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Malthus on July 16, 2013, 09:14:28 AM
Heh good question. I'm not totally sure, since some stuff my wife pays on our behalf, but insurance plus communications plus property taxes plus utilities plus gas for the car probably totals around $1500 per month.

This is a trifle misleading though, as I own outright my house and car.

Ed: just to be sure, I'll vote over $1500.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: garbon on July 16, 2013, 09:14:54 AM
Oh I voted no clue before I read your post and saw what you specified. I know all of that. :blush:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 16, 2013, 09:15:04 AM
With mortgage, car, auto insurance, condo fees, cable, phone, electricity, etc., I'm at around $2,300 to $2,400 a month, but $500 of that is the fucking lifeblood-sucking vampire called my COBRA healthcare.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Zanza on July 16, 2013, 09:19:04 AM
Unless I buy something really expensive (like an exotic three-week vacation), I always have more money at the end of the month than at the start. That's all that really matters... ;)
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 16, 2013, 09:21:22 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 16, 2013, 09:15:04 AM
With mortgage, car, auto insurance, condo fees, cable, phone, electricity, etc., I'm at around $2,300 to $2,400 a month, but $500 of that is the fucking lifeblood-sucking vampire called my COBRA healthcare.

Actually, upon further review, I'm really at around $2,100ish a month.  But that fucking COBRA ain't helping.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 09:21:34 AM
Quote from: Zanza on July 16, 2013, 09:13:18 AM
What is included in insurance? Health insurance is directly deducted from my payroll, so I don't really consider it a monthly bill. Without health insurance, I have fixed expenses for housing, utilities, communication, transport (don't own a vehicle), insurance etc. of less than 1000 Euro/month.

EDIT:
QuoteThis can include things like the weird taxes that Euros have to pay.
Must have missed that. What is a weird tax for you? Income tax? Social security contributions out of payroll?

For some, health insurance is a monthly bill. For others it's an auto-deduct from your paycheck. You can decide for yourself how you want to count it.

The weird taxes are like the living tax that they have in England. (I don't remember what it's called.) As well as the "watch TV" tax, etc.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 09:23:48 AM
Quote from: Malthus on July 16, 2013, 09:14:28 AM
Heh good question. I'm not totally sure, since some stuff my wife pays on our behalf, but insurance plus communications plus property taxes plus utilities plus gas for the car probably totals around $1500 per month.

This is a trifle misleading though, as I own outright my house and car.

Ed: just to be sure, I'll vote over $1500.

I don't think that's misleading at all. I'm not asking what your assets are; I'm asking what you pay for your basic living expenses. If you own your car and your house, then should you, god forbid, get laid off or fired, you could live on a much lower budget than you're used to. That's more what I'm wondering.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 09:24:25 AM
Our monthly bill just skyrocketed due to childcare costs. <_<
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 09:24:41 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 16, 2013, 09:14:54 AM
Oh I voted no clue before I read your post and saw what you specified. I know all of that. :blush:

Well? What's the real answer then?
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 09:25:25 AM
Quote from: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 09:24:25 AM
Our monthly bill just skyrocketed due to childcare costs. <_<

:D

It's been kind of nice not being financially responsible for two of the four kids.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 09:26:46 AM
Quote from: Zanza on July 16, 2013, 09:13:18 AM
Without health insurance, I have fixed expenses for housing, utilities, communication, transport (don't own a vehicle), insurance etc. of less than 1000 Euro/month.
payroll?

Hey, um, Zanza, did you vote 1000 or did you do the conversion to $? I think it's in a similar range, but I was actually thinking in dollars even though I didn't put that up there.  :blush:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Brazen on July 16, 2013, 09:28:22 AM
About $1800 for a one person, one-salary household, includes car costs but not petrol. Living in London beggars me.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: garbon on July 16, 2013, 09:29:18 AM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 09:24:41 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 16, 2013, 09:14:54 AM
Oh I voted no clue before I read your post and saw what you specified. I know all of that. :blush:

Well? What's the real answer then?

Depending on month (i.e. when I need to use a/c), I'm on the borderline of bucket 2 and 3.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Zanza on July 16, 2013, 09:33:31 AM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 09:21:34 AM
For some, health insurance is a monthly bill. For others it's an auto-deduct from your paycheck. You can decide for yourself how you want to count it.
Okay, I didn't count it as I don't really notice it. My employer pays it directly to the health insurance company.

QuoteThe weird taxes are like the living tax that they have in England. (I don't remember what it's called.) As well as the "watch TV" tax, etc.
Living is still free in Germany, TV tax is 18 Euro/month.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Zanza on July 16, 2013, 09:35:58 AM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 09:26:46 AM
Hey, um, Zanza, did you vote 1000 or did you do the conversion to $? I think it's in a similar range, but I was actually thinking in dollars even though I didn't put that up there.  :blush:
If the poll doesn't specify it, I obviously vote in Euro. :frog:

1000 EUR is about 1300 USD.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on July 16, 2013, 09:37:06 AM
Somewhere between $1000 and $1200.

You might laugh at our television tax but it beats paying for health insurance  :D
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on July 16, 2013, 09:47:35 AM
Jesus Herbert Hoover Christ I'm paying more for my house per month, including amortized taxes and insurance, than most of you pay total.  :blink: :cry:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 09:54:09 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on July 16, 2013, 09:37:06 AM
Somewhere between $1000 and $1200.

You might laugh at our television tax but it beats paying for health insurance  :D


Man between you and Zanza I almost want to return to the mother continent.  You guys need any electrical engineers? :P
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Malthus on July 16, 2013, 09:59:01 AM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 09:23:48 AM
I don't think that's misleading at all. I'm not asking what your assets are; I'm asking what you pay for your basic living expenses. If you own your car and your house, then should you, god forbid, get laid off or fired, you could live on a much lower budget than you're used to. That's more what I'm wondering.

Fair enough.

To my mind it sorta works out to the same whether I lease a car or not, because I have to save up cash in a sinking fund for the next car; but I could, if necessary, spend that cash on something else and drive this one into the ground.

The biggest single irreducible fixed expenses are property tax and insurance. If I lost everything, I'd still have to pay those unless I sold the house. Car I could live without, as I live, literally, right next to a subway station - I'm so close that in the basement, you can hear the trains moving.

Property tax plus insurance on my house is about $700 per month.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Syt on July 16, 2013, 10:03:15 AM
My monthly bills are between 1000 and 1200 EUR.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Zanza on July 16, 2013, 10:03:21 AM
Quote from: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 09:54:09 AM
Man between you and Zanza I almost want to return to the mother continent.  You guys need any electrical engineers? :P
My impression from having lived in the US and living here is that living in the US is generally cheaper, unless you live in a very expensive area.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Ed Anger on July 16, 2013, 10:07:02 AM
Roughly 5 to 6 thousand, depending on when insurance is due.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Malthus on July 16, 2013, 10:08:49 AM
Quote from: Zanza on July 16, 2013, 10:03:21 AM
Quote from: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 09:54:09 AM
Man between you and Zanza I almost want to return to the mother continent.  You guys need any electrical engineers? :P
My impression from having lived in the US and living here is that living in the US is generally cheaper, unless you live in a very expensive area.

Doesn't that depend on whether your work covers health insurance or not?

My impression is that this can take a pretty big bite.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 10:10:16 AM
In the green by a good margin. Other than that noneya.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Syt on July 16, 2013, 10:14:40 AM
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/07/15/2300321/mcdonalds-buget-low-wage/?mobile=nc

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fthinkprogress.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F07%2FScreen-shot-2013-07-15-at-9.29.08-AM.png&hash=6e37afc64f9c443539a0ac738bbc8fe9b0676da8)

QuoteMcDonalds Tells Workers To Budget By Getting A Second Job And Turning Off Their Heat

McDonalds has partnered with Visa to launch a website to help its low-wage workers making an average $8.25 an hour to budget. But while the site is clearly meant to illustrate that McDonalds workers should be able to live on their meager wages, it actually underscores exactly how hard it is for a low-paid fast food worker to get by.

The site includes a sample"'budget journal" for McDonalds' employees that offers a laughably inaccurate view of what it's like to budget on a minimum wage job. Not only does the budget leave a spot open for "second job," it also gives wholly unreasonable estimates for employees' costs: $20 a month for health care, $0 for heating, and $600 a month for rent. It does not include any budgeted money for food or clothing.

Basically every facet of this budget is unachievable. For an uninsured person to independently buy health care, he or she must shell out on average $215 a month — just for an individual plan. While some full-time McDonald's workers do qualify for the company's $14 a week health plan, that offer caps coverage at $10,000 a year and is often insufficient. If that person wants to eat, "moderate" spending will run them $32 a week for themselves, and $867 a month to feed a family of four. And if a fast food worker is living in a city? Well, New York City rents just reached an average of $3,000 a month.

The sample budget is also available in Spanish. On another section of the site, it concludes, "You can have almost anything you want as long as you plan ahead and save for it."

Neither McDonalds nor Visa returned requests for comment by the time of publication.

Last year, Bloomberg News found that it would take the average McDonalds employee one million hours of work to earn as much money as the company's CEO. This immense wage disparity in the fast food industry has sparked a series of protests and walk-outs by low-wage workers working at fast food chains around the country — in New York, Chicago, Washington, and Seattle, to name a few cities, workers from chains including KFC, McDonalds, Burger King, and Taco Bell have spoken publicly about the need for serious wage increases across the industry.

UPDATE:

A McDonalds spokesperson provided this statement to ThinkProgress:

    "In an effort to provide free, comprehensive money management tools, McDonald's first used the Wealth Watchers International budgeting journal when this financial literacy program launched in 2008.

    As part of this program, several resources were developed including a sample budgeting guide, an instructional video and a web resource center that had additional tools and information.

    The samples that are on this site are generic examples and are intended to help provide a general outline of what an individual budget may look like."
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 10:17:10 AM
Just did the math... looks like just shy of $2,000.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: garbon on July 16, 2013, 10:19:57 AM
QuoteWell, New York City rents just reached an average of $3,000 a month.

This bit is rather ridiculous though as we all already knew that you can't afford to work at McD's and live in most of Manhattan.  Not that I disagree with what the article is saying as a whole.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 10:20:36 AM
Quote from: Malthus on July 16, 2013, 10:08:49 AM
Doesn't that depend on whether your work covers health insurance or not?

My impression is that this can take a pretty big bite.

Well my work pays for my insurance but I still  need to shell out hundreds in the deductible every year before it kicks in.

Then throw in the thousands of dollars I am eventually going to have to spend on my kids' education.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 10:21:11 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 16, 2013, 10:19:57 AM
This bit is rather ridiculous though as we all already knew that you can't afford to work at McD's and live in most of Manhattan.  Not that I disagree with what the article is saying as a whole.

If you work at a McDonalds on Manhattan I guess you have a long commute.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: garbon on July 16, 2013, 10:28:45 AM
Quote from: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 10:21:11 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 16, 2013, 10:19:57 AM
This bit is rather ridiculous though as we all already knew that you can't afford to work at McD's and live in most of Manhattan.  Not that I disagree with what the article is saying as a whole.

If you work at a McDonalds on Manhattan I guess you have a long commute.

Well my sister paid rent to live in two places in bushwick, one for 600 and one for 500. Commute to my place (where there is a McD's) is about 30-40 minutes by subway.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Grey Fox on July 16, 2013, 10:29:18 AM
2500$ or so. Utilities were averages to 100$ a month because I don't pay that on a monthly basis.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: crazy canuck on July 16, 2013, 10:56:52 AM
I really dont know, but my property taxes alone probably put me over the poll limit.

I suspect Malthus is also significantly under reporting his property taxes.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 10:58:15 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 16, 2013, 10:56:52 AM
I really dont know, but my property taxes alone probably put me over the poll limit.

I suspect Malthus is also significantly under reporting his property taxes.

Your property taxes are over $6000 a month? :blink:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: crazy canuck on July 16, 2013, 10:58:59 AM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 10:58:15 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 16, 2013, 10:56:52 AM
I really dont know, but my property taxes alone probably put me over the poll limit.

I suspect Malthus is also significantly under reporting his property taxes.

Your property taxes are over $6000 a month? :blink:

edit: no, annually.  I take it back. :D
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 10:59:49 AM
 :hmm: How many acres do you have?

edit: Ah. :)
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 11:01:11 AM
Quote from: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 10:59:49 AM
:hmm: How many acres do you have?

Yeah I was suddenly imagining CC living on a vast country estate.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: crazy canuck on July 16, 2013, 11:02:37 AM
Quote from: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 11:01:11 AM
Quote from: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 10:59:49 AM
:hmm: How many acres do you have?

Yeah I was suddenly imagining CC living on a vast country estate.

Thats me in about 20 years.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: The Larch on July 16, 2013, 11:06:27 AM
The lower bracket, although I don't have a firm number. Definitely below the 1500 $/month range, though.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 11:08:58 AM
Quote from: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 09:24:25 AM
Our monthly bill just skyrocketed due to childcare costs. <_<

Oh yeah.  $1000.00 for that to.

DAMNIT I bet Zanza would get that for free to along with his tiny living expenses.  Stupid not-Germany Texas.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 11:09:36 AM
I just checked and I pay $286 a year in property tax. :lol:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: lustindarkness on July 16, 2013, 11:11:02 AM
I would have to ask The Boss, but I imagine somewhere close to $2500.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: crazy canuck on July 16, 2013, 11:13:19 AM
Quote from: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 11:09:36 AM
I just checked and I pay $286 a year in property tax. :lol:

I might consider buying a country estate there  :hmm:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 11:13:37 AM
Maybe I should have broke the options up a bit more. :hmm:

Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 16, 2013, 11:14:07 AM
Quote from: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 11:09:36 AM
I just checked and I pay $286 a year in property tax. :lol:

Which is precisely why your public school system is as shitty as it is.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 11:26:37 AM
Quote from: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 11:09:36 AM
I just checked and I pay $286 a year in property tax. :lol:

I pay $3,800.00 a year in property tax and I bet my property is worth a tiny fraction of yours.  This is what happens when you have no State income tax.  They get you either way.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 11:27:20 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 16, 2013, 11:14:07 AM
Quote from: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 11:09:36 AM
I just checked and I pay $286 a year in property tax. :lol:

Which is precisely why your public school system is as shitty as it is.
Thanks for the insight, Debbie Downer.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 11:27:46 AM
Quote from: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 11:26:37 AM
Quote from: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 11:09:36 AM
I just checked and I pay $286 a year in property tax. :lol:

I pay $3,800.00 a year in property tax and I bet my property is worth a tiny fraction of yours.  This is what happens when you have no State income tax.  They get you either way.
Yeah, I think our state income tax is actually a little higher than average.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: The Larch on July 16, 2013, 11:28:06 AM
I read what you Yanks spend and I can only think Long Live Public Healthcare and Education. :cheers:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: MadImmortalMan on July 16, 2013, 11:33:39 AM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 09:21:34 AM
For some, health insurance is a monthly bill. For others it's an auto-deduct from your paycheck. You can decide for yourself how you want to count it.

Either way it's an expense. Same with taxes. I guarantee most of the people here are wildly understating their expenses for that reason alone. Don't start with the net. The difference between the gross and the net are all expenses and need to be added in to the total. The only wildcard is 401k/IRA contributions.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Grey Fox on July 16, 2013, 11:37:43 AM
Quote from: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 11:08:58 AM
Quote from: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 09:24:25 AM
Our monthly bill just skyrocketed due to childcare costs. <_<

Oh yeah.  $1000.00 for that to.

DAMNIT I bet Zanza would get that for free to along with his tiny living expenses.  Stupid not-Germany Texas.

Childcare costs? My government gives me money to take care of my children!
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 11:49:09 AM
Yeah, we get it, America sucks. :sleep:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 11:49:36 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 16, 2013, 11:37:43 AM
Quote from: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 11:08:58 AM
Quote from: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 09:24:25 AM
Our monthly bill just skyrocketed due to childcare costs. <_<

Oh yeah.  $1000.00 for that to.

DAMNIT I bet Zanza would get that for free to along with his tiny living expenses.  Stupid not-Germany Texas.

Childcare costs? My government gives me money to take care of my children!

$100 / child.  Whee.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 11:50:26 AM
Quote from: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 11:49:09 AM
Yeah, we get it, America sucks. :sleep:

Maybe.  I need more data :hmm:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Syt on July 16, 2013, 11:51:48 AM
Quote from: Syt on July 16, 2013, 10:03:15 AM
My monthly bills are between 1000 and 1200 EUR.

Actually I would have to add 200 or 300 for health insurance, pension fund etc. Those that are deducted on salary payout are easy to miss.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Grey Fox on July 16, 2013, 12:00:19 PM
Quote from: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 11:49:36 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 16, 2013, 11:37:43 AM
Quote from: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 11:08:58 AM
Quote from: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 09:24:25 AM
Our monthly bill just skyrocketed due to childcare costs. <_<

Oh yeah.  $1000.00 for that to.

DAMNIT I bet Zanza would get that for free to along with his tiny living expenses.  Stupid not-Germany Texas.

Childcare costs? My government gives me money to take care of my children!

$100 / child.  Whee.

:lol:

I don't have your income. It's more like 250$/kid.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 12:01:48 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on July 16, 2013, 11:33:39 AM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 09:21:34 AM
For some, health insurance is a monthly bill. For others it's an auto-deduct from your paycheck. You can decide for yourself how you want to count it.

Either way it's an expense. Same with taxes. I guarantee most of the people here are wildly understating their expenses for that reason alone. Don't start with the net. The difference between the gross and the net are all expenses and need to be added in to the total. The only wildcard is 401k/IRA contributions.

I just wanted to know living expenses. I don't consider those living expenses, as they vary depending on income, not place of residence.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 12:10:14 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 16, 2013, 12:00:19 PM
Quote from: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 11:49:36 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 16, 2013, 11:37:43 AM
Quote from: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 11:08:58 AM
Quote from: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 09:24:25 AM
Our monthly bill just skyrocketed due to childcare costs. <_<

Oh yeah.  $1000.00 for that to.

DAMNIT I bet Zanza would get that for free to along with his tiny living expenses.  Stupid not-Germany Texas.

Childcare costs? My government gives me money to take care of my children!

$100 / child.  Whee.

:lol:

I don't have your income. It's more like 250$/kid.

The federal program isn't income dependant.  It's $100 / child under five / month for everyone.

I thought Quebec's child care program was those $5 / day daycares.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Grey Fox on July 16, 2013, 12:19:33 PM
Yes but there's also a supplement program based on income. I qualify for that one too.

It's part of it too, 7$ now too but there is also a 4 times a year payment.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: The Brain on July 16, 2013, 12:20:55 PM
Meh, counting money is so gauche. Whatever that means.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on July 16, 2013, 12:27:30 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on July 16, 2013, 11:33:39 AM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 09:21:34 AM
For some, health insurance is a monthly bill. For others it's an auto-deduct from your paycheck. You can decide for yourself how you want to count it.

Either way it's an expense. Same with taxes. I guarantee most of the people here are wildly understating their expenses for that reason alone. Don't start with the net. The difference between the gross and the net are all expenses and need to be added in to the total. The only wildcard is 401k/IRA contributions.

Take into account income taxes then we are just back to a proxy of our gross annual incomes  :hmm:

The monthly bills as defined by meri is quite a useful measure in my opinion, it represents fairly inelastic costs that it would be tricky to reduce even if our gross incomes collapsed. High income taxes, after all, are not a problem if one hits hard times.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Maximus on July 16, 2013, 12:33:33 PM
Quote from: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 11:09:36 AM
I just checked and I pay $286 a year in property tax. :lol:

Where I grew up my parents paid  less than $100 per year in property taxes on 240 acres.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 01:19:54 PM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on July 16, 2013, 12:27:30 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on July 16, 2013, 11:33:39 AM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 09:21:34 AM
For some, health insurance is a monthly bill. For others it's an auto-deduct from your paycheck. You can decide for yourself how you want to count it.

Either way it's an expense. Same with taxes. I guarantee most of the people here are wildly understating their expenses for that reason alone. Don't start with the net. The difference between the gross and the net are all expenses and need to be added in to the total. The only wildcard is 401k/IRA contributions.

Take into account income taxes then we are just back to a proxy of our gross annual incomes  :hmm:

The monthly bills as defined by meri is quite a useful measure in my opinion, it represents fairly inelastic costs that it would be tricky to reduce even if our gross incomes collapsed. High income taxes, after all, are not a problem if one hits hard times.

:yes:

One can lower monthly expenditures, but it's often a bit harder. This is obvious by the fact that our monthly costs went up considerably once Max got a job, because we added smart phones to our cell phone bill, got HBO, and bought a car and car insurance. If something should happen and we're back to a lower income, we could reduce those again as necessary.

But in general, your monthly expenditures are what they're going to be.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 01:23:16 PM
Quote from: Maximus on July 16, 2013, 12:33:33 PM
Where I grew up my parents paid  less than $100 per year in property taxes on 240 acres.
:wacko: Is there some kind of massive homestead exemption up there?
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 01:30:15 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 16, 2013, 11:14:07 AM
Quote from: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 11:09:36 AM
I just checked and I pay $286 a year in property tax. :lol:

Which is precisely why your public school system is as shitty as it is.

No that's due to lazy ass teachers and teachers unions.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Jacob on July 16, 2013, 01:34:46 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 01:30:15 PMNo that's due to lazy ass teachers and teachers unions.

Do you have kids?
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 01:39:16 PM
Quote from: Jacob on July 16, 2013, 01:34:46 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 01:30:15 PMNo that's due to lazy ass teachers and teachers unions.

Do you have kids?

I do, an 8 y/o.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 01:41:48 PM
Quote from: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 01:23:16 PM
Quote from: Maximus on July 16, 2013, 12:33:33 PM
Where I grew up my parents paid  less than $100 per year in property taxes on 240 acres.
:wacko: Is there some kind of massive homestead exemption up there?

I know the general area where Max is from.  It's miles from anywhere and likely receives essentially zero in services for those property taxes.

I mean I pay a lot in taxes, but at least I get water, garbage pick up, snowclearing, schools, etc. for that money.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Jacob on July 16, 2013, 01:42:05 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 01:39:16 PM
I do, an 8 y/o.

Gotcha. Cool :)

I was just wondering how personal your experiences and decisions were re: your local public school system.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 01:48:11 PM
Besides her last two teachers were nice, just hippies. Sending home incomplete homework assignment..etc.

The PTA was peddling this summer workbook for 17.00. I was like, yea, good idea. Now I was think along the lines of a book similar to a brainquest workbook, which is like an inch thick with multiple subjects. Oh no, not those fucking PTA swindlers. What I get is some 50 page lame ass workbook.

 
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Maximus on July 16, 2013, 01:50:13 PM
Quote from: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 01:23:16 PM
:wacko: Is there some kind of massive homestead exemption up there?
I don't know the exact details as I was 13 when we left. At the time that area was an Improvement District rather than a Municipal District. A Municipal District in Alberta is sort of similar to a county in the US although they have counties as well. An Improvement District means the population was low enough/sparse enough that it could not support its own infrastructure etc, so the province handled much of that and levied the property taxes at a low rate. I believe the Northern Residence reduction applied to property taxes and there may have been other exemptions related to underdeveloped areas.

In addition it was "agricultural land" which taxes at a lower rate than, say, residential. In reality, when they bought it it was wooded muskeg that wasn't even good for commercial logging. By the time we left it had all been drained and about half of it was cleared with about half of that in cultivation.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 01:52:42 PM
Quote from: Maximus on July 16, 2013, 01:50:13 PM
Quote from: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 01:23:16 PM
:wacko: Is there some kind of massive homestead exemption up there?
I don't know the exact details as I was 13 when we left. At the time that area was an Improvement District rather than a Municipal District. A Municipal District in Alberta is sort of similar to a county in the US although they have counties as well. An Improvement District means the population was low enough/sparse enough that it could not support its own infrastructure etc, so the province handled much of that and levied the property taxes at a low rate. I believe the Northern Residence reduction applied to property taxes and there may have been other exemptions related to underdeveloped areas.

In addition it was "agricultural land" which taxes at a lower rate than, say, residential. In reality, when they bought it it was wooded muskeg that wasn't even good for commercial logging. By the time we left it had all been drained and about half of it was cleared with about half of that in cultivation.

IIRC you'd also be getting a discount since you're doing all those improvements to the land.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Maximus on July 16, 2013, 01:56:03 PM
Possibly
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 02:00:02 PM
Quote from: Jacob on July 16, 2013, 01:42:05 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 01:39:16 PM
I do, an 8 y/o.

Gotcha. Cool :)

I was just wondering how personal your experiences and decisions were re: your local public school system.

No prob. I'm sure there are good school systems out there.

I went to the 16 y/o parent/teacher conference. A 10 minute round robin type of bullshit. Which chapped my hide right out of the gate.

We sit down and the Hippy asks the 16 y/o, "Well XXXXX how do you think you been doing so far?"

I stop the whole process and tell the teacher, I dont want to hear from the 16 y/o on how she's doing. I want to hear it from you..teacher, on how she's doing. The Hippy then spewed some shit about that's the way we do it here.

I told the hippy, "Not for my 10 minutes".
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Malthus on July 16, 2013, 02:28:25 PM
Quote from: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 01:52:42 PM
Quote from: Maximus on July 16, 2013, 01:50:13 PM
Quote from: Caliga on July 16, 2013, 01:23:16 PM
:wacko: Is there some kind of massive homestead exemption up there?
I don't know the exact details as I was 13 when we left. At the time that area was an Improvement District rather than a Municipal District. A Municipal District in Alberta is sort of similar to a county in the US although they have counties as well. An Improvement District means the population was low enough/sparse enough that it could not support its own infrastructure etc, so the province handled much of that and levied the property taxes at a low rate. I believe the Northern Residence reduction applied to property taxes and there may have been other exemptions related to underdeveloped areas.

In addition it was "agricultural land" which taxes at a lower rate than, say, residential. In reality, when they bought it it was wooded muskeg that wasn't even good for commercial logging. By the time we left it had all been drained and about half of it was cleared with about half of that in cultivation.

IIRC you'd also be getting a discount since you're doing all those improvements to the land.

If you work it right, you can pay essentially no tax right here in good old southern Ontario.  :)

My dad owns a bunch of "significant" wetlands and the rest is under a forestry management plan, he files a bunch of papers every year, and so he pays essentially no tax on his 100 acres in Oro-Medonte (just north of Barrie, Ontario). Mind you, he works pretty hard on his forestry management - he takes that stuff seriously, keeps track of every tree like some sort of human ent.  :lol:

Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Malthus on July 16, 2013, 02:30:15 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 02:00:02 PM
Quote from: Jacob on July 16, 2013, 01:42:05 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 01:39:16 PM
I do, an 8 y/o.

Gotcha. Cool :)

I was just wondering how personal your experiences and decisions were re: your local public school system.

No prob. I'm sure there are good school systems out there.

I went to the 16 y/o parent/teacher conference. A 10 minute round robin type of bullshit. Which chapped my hide right out of the gate.

We sit down and the Hippy asks the 16 y/o, "Well XXXXX how do you think you been doing so far?"

I stop the whole process and tell the teacher, I dont want to hear from the 16 y/o on how she's doing. I want to hear it from you..teacher, on how she's doing. The Hippy then spewed some shit about that's the way we do it here.

I told the hippy, "Not for my 10 minutes".

Interesting. At what point did you draw your gun?  :hmm:

:P
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 02:55:46 PM
Quote from: Malthus on July 16, 2013, 02:30:15 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 02:00:02 PM
Quote from: Jacob on July 16, 2013, 01:42:05 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 01:39:16 PM
I do, an 8 y/o.

Gotcha. Cool :)

I was just wondering how personal your experiences and decisions were re: your local public school system.

No prob. I'm sure there are good school systems out there.

I went to the 16 y/o parent/teacher conference. A 10 minute round robin type of bullshit. Which chapped my hide right out of the gate.

We sit down and the Hippy asks the 16 y/o, "Well XXXXX how do you think you been doing so far?"

I stop the whole process and tell the teacher, I dont want to hear from the 16 y/o on how she's doing. I want to hear it from you..teacher, on how she's doing. The Hippy then spewed some shit about that's the way we do it here.

I told the hippy, "Not for my 10 minutes".

Interesting. At what point did you draw your gun?  :hmm:

:P

Why would I be carrying on school grounds? Even off duty?  :huh:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: katmai on July 16, 2013, 02:57:41 PM
No mortgage or car payment means less than $1000 a month.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Malthus on July 16, 2013, 03:04:39 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 02:55:46 PM
Why would I be carrying on school grounds? Even off duty?  :huh:

Leaving yourself defenseless against hippies?  :blink:

Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Ed Anger on July 16, 2013, 03:15:52 PM
I would have ice picked that teacher's tires.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: MadBurgerMaker on July 16, 2013, 03:16:34 PM
Somewhere between $2700 and $3000. 

E:  Wait.  I forgot my wife's car payment.  Damn.  Need cheaper cars.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: MadImmortalMan on July 16, 2013, 03:31:49 PM
I'm still the only one over 4k? I call BS.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Ed Anger on July 16, 2013, 03:32:33 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on July 16, 2013, 03:31:49 PM
I'm still the only one over 4k? I call BS.

I don't vote in polls.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: The Brain on July 16, 2013, 03:35:42 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 16, 2013, 03:32:33 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on July 16, 2013, 03:31:49 PM
I'm still the only one over 4k? I call BS.

I don't vote in polls.

Do you require assistance?  :)
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Sheilbh on July 16, 2013, 03:40:36 PM
I'd guess around 1400-1500 fixed costs a month. So that's my rent, council tax, TV license, transport and utilities.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 03:42:42 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 16, 2013, 03:40:36 PM
council tax, TV license

Those are the taxes I was talking about. Thanks, Sheilbh! :hug:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Sheilbh on July 16, 2013, 03:43:49 PM
I thought most of the Americans seemed to be paying a lot on cable and phone contracts in the other thread. I'm sure something's not right here :mellow:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: katmai on July 16, 2013, 03:51:03 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on July 16, 2013, 03:31:49 PM
I'm still the only one over 4k? I call BS.

That's a lot o fucking money dude. Even with mortgage and new car i'd be below $2500
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 03:58:03 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 16, 2013, 03:43:49 PM
I thought most of the Americans seemed to be paying a lot on cable and phone contracts in the other thread. I'm sure something's not right here :mellow:

Our bills run roughly:

Rent   $1000
Utilities   $175
Cable      $175
Cell Phone     $275
Car Payment     $350
Car Insurance     $100
Max's Student Loan     $380
My Tuition         $150

Which part is not what you expected?
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: MadImmortalMan on July 16, 2013, 03:59:55 PM
Quote from: katmai on July 16, 2013, 03:51:03 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on July 16, 2013, 03:31:49 PM
I'm still the only one over 4k? I call BS.

That's a lot o fucking money dude. Even with mortgage and new car i'd be below $2500

I have multiple mortgages on multiple properties. They're still "bills" by Meri's rules even though they produce more income. Maintaining only my own home would be way cheaper.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: katmai on July 16, 2013, 04:01:58 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on July 16, 2013, 03:59:55 PM
Quote from: katmai on July 16, 2013, 03:51:03 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on July 16, 2013, 03:31:49 PM
I'm still the only one over 4k? I call BS.

That's a lot o fucking money dude. Even with mortgage and new car i'd be below $2500

I have multiple mortgages on multiple properties. They're still "bills" by Meri's rules even though they produce more income. Maintaining only my own home would be way cheaper.

Oh i know it, my dad's monthly amount is close to $3k because of his rentals.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Sheilbh on July 16, 2013, 04:05:16 PM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 03:58:03 PM
Our bills run roughly:

Rent   $1000
Utilities   $175
Cable      $175
Cell Phone     $275
Car Payment     $350
Car Insurance     $100
Max's Student Loan     $380
My Tuition         $150

Which part is not what you expected?
The cable still surprises me. I mean the most expensive satellite package - plus TV licence - is still only around $150. If you don't want 3D, HD, box sets on demand etc then you'll pay far less.

How many phones are you paying for because that seems high to me too?

Everything else looks about what I'd expect or lower for a family.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 04:17:55 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 16, 2013, 04:05:16 PM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 03:58:03 PM
Our bills run roughly:

Rent   $1000
Utilities   $175
Cable      $175
Cell Phone     $275
Car Payment     $350
Car Insurance     $100
Max's Student Loan     $380
My Tuition         $150

Which part is not what you expected?
The cable still surprises me. I mean the most expensive satellite package - plus TV licence - is still only around $150. If you don't want 3D, HD, box sets on demand etc then you'll pay far less.

How many phones are you paying for because that seems high to me too?

Everything else looks about what I'd expect or lower for a family.

Meri can speak for herself of course, but I pay my cable company almost $200 / month.  But the thing is - the cable company is also our internet provider, and our land-line phone company.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Sheilbh on July 16, 2013, 04:21:22 PM
I think you get that with the big Sky package to.

Maybe not the landline, but I don't know about that because so few people I know have them :blush:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: katmai on July 16, 2013, 04:22:00 PM
$240 a month here, but that is landline, cable and internet.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 04:30:23 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 16, 2013, 04:05:16 PM
The cable still surprises me. I mean the most expensive satellite package - plus TV licence - is still only around $150. If you don't want 3D, HD, box sets on demand etc then you'll pay far less.

How many phones are you paying for because that seems high to me too?

Everything else looks about what I'd expect or lower for a family.

That's for four phones with a family data plan and unlimited texting for all four phones. It's more expensive than I'd prefer, but the elder boy isn't ready to be on his own plan yet.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 04:31:10 PM
Quote from: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 04:17:55 PM

Meri can speak for herself of course, but I pay my cable company almost $200 / month.  But the thing is - the cable company is also our internet provider, and our land-line phone company.

We don't have a landline, but yeah, our cable bill includes our internet.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: crazy canuck on July 16, 2013, 04:39:56 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on July 16, 2013, 03:59:55 PM
Quote from: katmai on July 16, 2013, 03:51:03 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on July 16, 2013, 03:31:49 PM
I'm still the only one over 4k? I call BS.

That's a lot o fucking money dude. Even with mortgage and new car i'd be below $2500

I have multiple mortgages on multiple properties. They're still "bills" by Meri's rules even though they produce more income. Maintaining only my own home would be way cheaper.

Well if we are going to incluse the "cost" of investments...
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 04:53:55 PM
QuoteCell Phone     $275

Eeeeegad! Do you really need it that bad. My phone bill/internet 65.00 which includes DSL.

No cell phone for mr. Dont want to talk to people and text msg's just piss me off.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 04:56:08 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on July 16, 2013, 03:59:55 PM

I have multiple mortgages on multiple properties. They're still "bills" by Meri's rules even though they produce more income. Maintaining only my own home would be way cheaper.

I'm not sure that those count, as they're a business rather than personal expense.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 05:04:18 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 04:53:55 PM
QuoteCell Phone     $275

Eeeeegad! Do you really need it that bad. My phone bill/internet 65.00 which includes DSL.

No cell phone for mr. Dont want to talk to people and text msg's just piss me off.

I have four teenagers, one of whom has a very serious illness. I'm out a lot, as are the kids, and it's pretty useful for all of us to be able to reach one another when we're not home. Yes, the cellphones are necessary.

Do I need a cellphone bill that's that high? No, I don't. That's a convenience fee for the Smart Phone and the unlimited texts. We did without for a long time, but were all thrilled when we could up the ante a bit after Max got a job. I'm hoping that by the time Jackson's phone is up for a renewal in January we can remove him from the bill. That'll drop it down to closer to $200. :)
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Sheilbh on July 16, 2013, 05:07:00 PM
Okay. Phone cost's not that bad. I pay around $50-60 a month for mine I think.

Edit: One possible thought on this is that maybe UK contracts tend to be longer-term than the US for things like cable or phones? :mellow:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Tonitrus on July 16, 2013, 05:13:23 PM
Between "rent", cable/tv, car insurance...about $2000 tops. 

Utilities is included in rent, no car payment or mortgage, debt, etc.

For a single dude, the military is actually a damn good job.  Just stay out of Siege's MOS.  :P
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: mongers on July 16, 2013, 05:14:14 PM
Quote from: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 04:17:55 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 16, 2013, 04:05:16 PM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 03:58:03 PM
Our bills run roughly:

Rent   $1000
Utilities   $175
Cable      $175
Cell Phone     $275
Car Payment     $350
Car Insurance     $100
Max's Student Loan     $380
My Tuition         $150

Which part is not what you expected?
The cable still surprises me. I mean the most expensive satellite package - plus TV licence - is still only around $150. If you don't want 3D, HD, box sets on demand etc then you'll pay far less.

How many phones are you paying for because that seems high to me too?

Everything else looks about what I'd expect or lower for a family.

Meri can speak for herself of course, but I pay my cable company almost $200 / month.  But the thing is - the cable company is also our internet provider, and our land-line phone company.

Still seems somewhat on the high side.  I just had a bill and it was shy of 22 quid for landline, internet and calls so that's $33-34 a month. 

I don't have cable, just a TV license, which on checking is 145.50 so add $220 a year for that. 

Cell phones and usage can be pretty cheap over here, I probably spend about $10 every 6months on calls.   :blush:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Habbaku on July 16, 2013, 05:17:20 PM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 03:58:03 PM
Cell Phone     $275

:wacko:  Whyyyyyy?
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Habbaku on July 16, 2013, 05:22:16 PM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 05:04:18 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on July 16, 2013, 04:53:55 PM
QuoteCell Phone     $275

Eeeeegad! Do you really need it that bad. My phone bill/internet 65.00 which includes DSL.

No cell phone for mr. Dont want to talk to people and text msg's just piss me off.

I have four teenagers, one of whom has a very serious illness. I'm out a lot, as are the kids, and it's pretty useful for all of us to be able to reach one another when we're not home. Yes, the cellphones are necessary.

Do I need a cellphone bill that's that high? No, I don't. That's a convenience fee for the Smart Phone and the unlimited texts. We did without for a long time, but were all thrilled when we could up the ante a bit after Max got a job. I'm hoping that by the time Jackson's phone is up for a renewal in January we can remove him from the bill. That'll drop it down to closer to $200. :)

That makes a lot more sense.  $275/month is actually a good price for six people.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 05:23:03 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on July 16, 2013, 05:17:20 PM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 03:58:03 PM
Cell Phone     $275

:wacko:  Whyyyyyy?

It's only about $70/line. That doesn't seem like a lot to me for a pretty big data plan for everyone to share and unlimited texting for everyone. :unsure:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 05:24:21 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on July 16, 2013, 05:22:16 PM

That makes a lot more sense.  $275/month is actually a good price for six people.

Four people, actually. Riley and Carter are on their dad's plan.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Habbaku on July 16, 2013, 05:27:02 PM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 05:23:03 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on July 16, 2013, 05:17:20 PM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 03:58:03 PM
Cell Phone     $275

:wacko:  Whyyyyyy?

It's only about $70/line. That doesn't seem like a lot to me for a pretty big data plan for everyone to share and unlimited texting for everyone. :unsure:

That is definitely a lot, though I suppose it depends on how much data you actually use and your talk minutes.  I'm on Virgin Mobile, for instance, and they provide unlimited data and texts for $35/month per line.  The downside is that you are only given 300 talk minutes per month (but I usually only burn ~100 of those--texting eliminates a lot of the need for most calls) and that you must buy a phone from them up-front before you can use the service.  Compared to a contract plan from the major carriers, that's a huge difference on a monthly basis.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 16, 2013, 05:27:55 PM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on July 16, 2013, 09:37:06 AM
You might laugh at our television tax but it beats paying for health insurance  :D

Yeah, well...:unsure:

Free refills, bitch.  :mad:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: katmai on July 16, 2013, 05:30:04 PM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 05:23:03 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on July 16, 2013, 05:17:20 PM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 03:58:03 PM
Cell Phone     $275

:wacko:  Whyyyyyy?

It's only about $70/line. That doesn't seem like a lot to me for a pretty big data plan for everyone to share and unlimited texting for everyone. :unsure:

My dad pays $190 for him, his gf and one of her sons.

I pay $135 for me and my mother (two iphones with data plans and unlimited texting)
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 05:46:56 PM
Quote from: katmai on July 16, 2013, 05:30:04 PM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 05:23:03 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on July 16, 2013, 05:17:20 PM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 03:58:03 PM
Cell Phone     $275

:wacko:  Whyyyyyy?

It's only about $70/line. That doesn't seem like a lot to me for a pretty big data plan for everyone to share and unlimited texting for everyone. :unsure:

My dad pays $190 for him, his gf and one of her sons.

I pay $135 for me and my mother (two iphones with data plans and unlimited texting)

I forgot the data plan for Max's tablet, too. So yeah, five lines, effectively.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: garbon on July 16, 2013, 05:48:43 PM
Sorry but still kinda reminds me of my cousins living at home with their giant ass tvs (and the one with his bmw). Hell my grandfather in gov't housing with his new cadillacs every few years. :(
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 05:53:28 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 16, 2013, 05:48:43 PM
Sorry but still kinda reminds me of my cousins living at home with their giant ass tvs (and the one with his bmw). Hell my grandfather in gov't housing with his new cadillacs every few years. :(

:huh:

We can afford it. Now. When we couldn't, our bill was considerably less.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Ed Anger on July 16, 2013, 06:29:03 PM
I've reduced my cable bill w/20 megabit Internet down to 115 bucks by sweet talking the cable girl on the phone. And the threat to switch to a dish or U verse.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Grey Fox on July 16, 2013, 07:22:50 PM
Quote from: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 04:17:55 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 16, 2013, 04:05:16 PM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 03:58:03 PM
Our bills run roughly:

Rent   $1000
Utilities   $175
Cable      $175
Cell Phone     $275
Car Payment     $350
Car Insurance     $100
Max's Student Loan     $380
My Tuition         $150

Which part is not what you expected?
The cable still surprises me. I mean the most expensive satellite package - plus TV licence - is still only around $150. If you don't want 3D, HD, box sets on demand etc then you'll pay far less.

How many phones are you paying for because that seems high to me too?

Everything else looks about what I'd expect or lower for a family.

Meri can speak for herself of course, but I pay my cable company almost $200 / month.  But the thing is - the cable company is also our internet provider, and our land-line phone company.

Your TV package must be really nice.

I pay 57 & 48$ for Cable TV & Internet(different companies). I don't have a landline.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Grey Fox on July 16, 2013, 07:26:09 PM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 05:46:56 PM
Quote from: katmai on July 16, 2013, 05:30:04 PM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 05:23:03 PM
Quote from: Habbaku on July 16, 2013, 05:17:20 PM
Quote from: merithyn on July 16, 2013, 03:58:03 PM
Cell Phone     $275

:wacko:  Whyyyyyy?

It's only about $70/line. That doesn't seem like a lot to me for a pretty big data plan for everyone to share and unlimited texting for everyone. :unsure:

My dad pays $190 for him, his gf and one of her sons.

I pay $135 for me and my mother (two iphones with data plans and unlimited texting)

I forgot the data plan for Max's tablet, too. So yeah, five lines, effectively.

How much data? because that's important.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: dps on July 16, 2013, 09:04:40 PM
Voted <$1500, but it's not a lot under, and it might go a bit over that in the winter when the electric bill goes up.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: jimmy olsen on July 16, 2013, 09:26:36 PM
Job provides me with housing and pays half my insurance, do I count that?
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Grey Fox on July 16, 2013, 09:47:27 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on July 16, 2013, 09:26:36 PM
Job provides me with housing and pays half my insurance, do I count that?

No.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on July 17, 2013, 01:38:22 AM
The North American mobile phone bills sound a bit steep but it may be something to do with the firms recovering the cost of the infrastructure. It has got to be cheaper to provide coverage for a small densely-populated island than a continent  :hmm:

I don't bother with a mobile but my wife has a contract that costs about £23 per month ($35). But that includes a free android smartphone, unlimited texts, more calls than she ever needs  and a data allowance that she uses about 2/3 of.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Admiral Yi on July 17, 2013, 02:35:59 AM
:o Have we finally found something that's cheaper in the UK than in the US?
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 17, 2013, 07:12:23 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 16, 2013, 07:26:09 PM

How much data? because that's important.

10 gb to share for all

Essentially, for our family, unlimited.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Grey Fox on July 17, 2013, 07:18:57 AM
That's alot. That amount is impossible to achieve in Canada. Max would be 6gb, unshareable.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: merithyn on July 17, 2013, 07:27:18 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 17, 2013, 07:18:57 AM
That's alot. That amount is impossible to achieve in Canada. Max would be 6gb, unshareable.

We have unlimited calling, unlimited texting, and 10 gb of data to share across five lines (if you include the tablet). All for $275. It's expensive, but we're getting a lot for it. :)
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: mongers on July 17, 2013, 07:40:49 AM
Quote from: merithyn on July 17, 2013, 07:27:18 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 17, 2013, 07:18:57 AM
That's alot. That amount is impossible to achieve in Canada. Max would be 6gb, unshareable.

We have unlimited calling, unlimited texting, and 10 gb of data to share across five lines (if you include the tablet). All for $275. It's expensive, but we're getting a lot for it. :)

Virgin in the UK have launched a new deal:

Quote
VIP SIM Only for £15 a month. That includes unlimited texts, data and minutes too, on a flexible 30-day rolling contract.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: The Brain on July 17, 2013, 08:16:21 AM
I haven't paid for phone stuff in years.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: sbr on July 17, 2013, 10:51:44 AM
I am on the lower end of the 1500-2500 spectrum.

My house payment (including taxes and insurance) is just over a grand.  I own my cars outright.  The kids' cell phone plans are still attached to my parents' plan for some reason.  I don't pay anything out of pocket for medical insurance premiums.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Barrister on July 17, 2013, 10:52:34 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 17, 2013, 02:35:59 AM
:o Have we finally found something that's cheaper in the UK than in the US?

As I understand it, most Americans (and Canadians) sign lengthy multi-year contracts for their phone, but then get their expensive iPhone or Android for 'free', whereas in Europe they typically pay out of pocket for the phone but then only have month-to-month contracts.

In other words, we pay more because we like to be fooled we are getting our phone for 'free'.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Sheilbh on July 17, 2013, 07:00:54 PM
Quote from: Barrister on July 17, 2013, 10:52:34 AM
As I understand it, most Americans (and Canadians) sign lengthy multi-year contracts for their phone, but then get their expensive iPhone or Android for 'free', whereas in Europe they typically pay out of pocket for the phone but then only have month-to-month contracts.
Nope. In the UK the standard is that you sign an 18-month plus contract and get the phone for free.

I thought that maybe it was the other way round and North Americans had short, easily changed contracts so had to pay more but we got cheaper, long-term deals that lock us in.

Maybe there's just more competition in mobiles in the UK/Europe?
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Grey Fox on July 18, 2013, 12:06:38 PM
Quote from: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 12:10:14 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 16, 2013, 12:00:19 PM
Quote from: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 11:49:36 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 16, 2013, 11:37:43 AM
Quote from: Valmy on July 16, 2013, 11:08:58 AM
Quote from: Barrister on July 16, 2013, 09:24:25 AM
Our monthly bill just skyrocketed due to childcare costs. <_<

Oh yeah.  $1000.00 for that to.

DAMNIT I bet Zanza would get that for free to along with his tiny living expenses.  Stupid not-Germany Texas.

Childcare costs? My government gives me money to take care of my children!

$100 / child.  Whee.

:lol:

I don't have your income. It's more like 250$/kid.

The federal program isn't income dependant.  It's $100 / child under five / month for everyone.

I thought Quebec's child care program was those $5 / day daycares.

I looked it up a little. So we both have the UCCB, which is 100$ month per kid and is taxable. I am also eligible CCTB which is non-taxable based on adjusted family income.

Quebec gives me "Soutiens aux Enfants" a payment every 3 months.

My oldest also goes in a subsidised daycare at 7$/day. That's really misleading since I pay even the days she doesn't go to day care, it's more like 1800$/year.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on July 18, 2013, 01:31:38 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on July 16, 2013, 03:31:49 PM
I'm still the only one over 4k? I call BS.

I'm close, but fortunately not over that threshold yet.

EDIT:
Just did a rough calculation, and until we cancelled the cable and finished paying off my wife's vehicle, we were over $4k.  We are still trying to reduce the amount, but it is getting to the point where we would need to start cutting domestic services to make it.  Ditching the T1 line is the only low-hanging fruit left.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Warspite on July 18, 2013, 01:38:42 PM
I have chosen to rent a room in a dilapidated apartment in a great location (and with very good flatmates), so my total monthly bills total £720 for everything.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Savonarola on July 18, 2013, 04:05:58 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on July 17, 2013, 07:00:54 PM
Nope. In the UK the standard is that you sign an 18-month plus contract and get the phone for free.

I thought that maybe it was the other way round and North Americans had short, easily changed contracts so had to pay more but we got cheaper, long-term deals that lock us in.

Maybe there's just more competition in mobiles in the UK/Europe?

How do you assign licenses in the UK?  In the US we have the auction model, where companies bid on spectrum in a region.  A number of countries use the "Beauty Pageant" model where the company that promises the best coverage gets the license for the entire country (and later can be fined if they don't meet it.)  The auction model is more expensive since there's a enormous up front cost.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on July 18, 2013, 05:19:44 PM
Quote from: Warspite on July 18, 2013, 01:38:42 PM
I have chosen to rent a room in a dilapidated apartment in a great location (and with very good flatmates), so my total monthly bills total £720 for everything.

Sounds great, and you'll have enough left over to actually enjoy what London offers  :cool:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: mongers on July 18, 2013, 05:23:47 PM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on July 18, 2013, 05:19:44 PM
Quote from: Warspite on July 18, 2013, 01:38:42 PM
I have chosen to rent a room in a dilapidated apartment in a great location (and with very good flatmates), so my total monthly bills total £720 for everything.

Sounds great, and you'll have enough left over to actually enjoy what London offers  :cool:

What there's more to it than just the Swedish pub ? :unsure:
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on July 18, 2013, 05:29:10 PM
Poor old Delirium  :(

Teetotal for medical reasons he gaily flies over from Sweden for the weekend and is then forced to spend 36 hours in London's Swedish pub with a band of drunken idiots  <_<

He must have been a real bastard in a former life to have deserved that  :P
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Sheilbh on July 18, 2013, 05:39:54 PM
Quote from: Savonarola on July 18, 2013, 04:05:58 PM
How do you assign licenses in the UK? 
Auction for a 20 year license (the 3G one brought in around £20 billion for the Treasury) half has to be up-front the rest can be paid over the twenty years.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: DGuller on July 18, 2013, 06:14:04 PM
Rent + monthly utility bills + car expenses total to about $3000.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Ed Anger on July 18, 2013, 06:21:45 PM
So, did I win this dick-waving contest?
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 18, 2013, 06:25:36 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 18, 2013, 06:21:45 PM
So, did I win this dick-waving contest?

Crêpe ass cracker.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: mongers on July 18, 2013, 06:29:02 PM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on July 18, 2013, 05:29:10 PM
Poor old Delirium  :(

Teetotal for medical reasons he gaily flies over from Sweden for the weekend and is then forced to spend 36 hours in London's Swedish pub with a band of drunken idiots  <_<

He must have been a real bastard in a former life to have deserved that  :P

:D
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: garbon on July 18, 2013, 11:15:36 PM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on July 18, 2013, 05:29:10 PM
Poor old Delirium  :(

Teetotal for medical reasons he gaily flies over from Sweden for the weekend and is then forced to spend 36 hours in London's Swedish pub with a band of drunken idiots  <_<

He must have been a real bastard in a former life to have deserved that  :P


Wait didn't he also show up the time I was around with Berk and Eochaid or did that just round at the Swedish pub just happen for the sake of memories?
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: garbon on July 18, 2013, 11:16:23 PM
/I was young and drunk so have essentially no memory. Apart from the story about black people in England who were essentially bred away.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Ideologue on July 19, 2013, 04:34:19 AM
I bred a black person away once.
Title: Re: What do your monthly bills total?
Post by: Brazen on July 19, 2013, 04:45:07 AM
Quote from: garbon on July 18, 2013, 11:16:23 PM
/I was young and drunk so have essentially no memory. Apart from the story about black people in England who were essentially bred away.
When I met you there, they were reminiscing about last time, so you haven't forgotten, no.

It may have been me talking about how there was a significant black population in London in the 17th Century, but they intermingled so successfully, Londoners are now all a little bit black.

I think I heard that from Eddie Izzard's Mongrel Nation TV series.