Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
#136
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
That sounds easy to fix -- you take over laundry duties and do it your way!
#137
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
I may try to introduce a clothes line next spring, but I will be §çrewed if she ever comes home and finds the laundry still outside. That said, most things will be dry after half an hour in the sun here.
#138
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
I have trouble enough getting Mrs to use the eco mode on the dryer. One thing we did try was running the hot water a tiny bit before putting the dishwasher on. It made a tiny difference by not having the dishwasher heat the water.
#139
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
I do that, and with the washing machine too.
#140
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
Why, oh why, do people put conditioner in with towels??? It might make them soft and fluffy but makes them about as useful for towelling off water as Izal is for wiping backsides...
#143
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
If your AC was "going 24/7" when the temperatures are in the high 80's, or even low-mid 90's, it is broken and needs to be repaired or replaced.
#144
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
It's been more than 3 months since we moved, so I have a more realistic set of numbers from our monthly expenditure on our bank statements and W2 forms now. I will share these approximate figures in case it helps anyone else considering this issue. I am excluding start-up purchases for which we paid up-front with savings from this list (furniture, bikes, car), so that only regular expenses are included. This is a budget for 2 people on one income.
Rent for large 1BR flat: $1500 (includes water, trash)
Groceries: $750 (mostly from ALDI, occasional treat from Publix)
Medical: $650 (includes premiums, appointment co-pays, 90-day mail order prescriptions, and dentist - this is for routine care, and note that we have very generous state employee health insurance)
Pre-tax deductions from the paycheck (retirement savings, life insurance): $300 (plan to increase this as soon as I get a raise)
Car insurance: $180
Petrol and tolls: $50 (note that we live near work/grocery stores and so drive very little, and bike a lot - especially now the temperature is "only" in the 70s F)
Mobile phone contracts: $50
Electricity: Averages around $80 - more in August, less in October
Internet: $60 (we don't have cable or a landline)
Other: $200
Total: $3820
Income: approx. $4100 after tax
So, overall, the differences between income and expenditure is a couple of hundred dollars - less than I would like, but once we can go dual-income, if we can maintain this level of expenditure, we should be in a much more comfortable position. Also thinking about getting a mortgage on a modest house (we have savings for a deposit) and having lower monthly accommodation costs, but this seems risky until green cards are secured.
Rent for large 1BR flat: $1500 (includes water, trash)
Groceries: $750 (mostly from ALDI, occasional treat from Publix)
Medical: $650 (includes premiums, appointment co-pays, 90-day mail order prescriptions, and dentist - this is for routine care, and note that we have very generous state employee health insurance)
Pre-tax deductions from the paycheck (retirement savings, life insurance): $300 (plan to increase this as soon as I get a raise)
Car insurance: $180
Petrol and tolls: $50 (note that we live near work/grocery stores and so drive very little, and bike a lot - especially now the temperature is "only" in the 70s F)
Mobile phone contracts: $50
Electricity: Averages around $80 - more in August, less in October
Internet: $60 (we don't have cable or a landline)
Other: $200
Total: $3820
Income: approx. $4100 after tax
So, overall, the differences between income and expenditure is a couple of hundred dollars - less than I would like, but once we can go dual-income, if we can maintain this level of expenditure, we should be in a much more comfortable position. Also thinking about getting a mortgage on a modest house (we have savings for a deposit) and having lower monthly accommodation costs, but this seems risky until green cards are secured.
#145
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 4
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
Just wanted to suggest that you look at Sedano's in the Orlando area. It's a hispanic grocery store chain, and the prices are really good, I'd say quality's better than Walmart or WinnDixie (though those are disappearing in the area). We end up getting really good quality and very cheap meat there, as they tend to do deals for larger amounts, so you get several pounds at a reduced rate and have the butcher cut it up however you like. Whatever you don't use that week, you freeze. The fruit and veg are also good quality and pretty cheap. Also keep an eye out for Publix coupons, (check their website, they have digital versions) there's usually some in the Sentinel.