In one of my recent posts at U.S. News several comments expressed doubt that the budget I posted as an example used my real expenses. A $1000 a month budget seems difficult for some to believe even though a little internet searching would show this is quite possible. Since I post my expenses every month my regular readers know what my expenses are but for the skeptics I am posting some proof of my low expenses.
First off is my high-speed internet for $15 a month. I got this through Link City and you can see that is their basic rate.
Next is my phone bill of $35 a month. This is the SERO plan from Sprint which includes 500 anytime minutes, unlimited nights and weekends, unlimited texts, and unlimited data for $30 a month. You can’t get this deal anymore but I am grandfathered in. There are lots of discussions about SERO, the one at Slick Deals has a lot of information on this cheap phone plan.
My rent of $360 a month seemed to be the item people were most skeptical about. It is cheap rent, even for Kansas City but it isn’t hard to find a place for less than $400 a month. Kansas City apartments for less than $400 a month.
Last I have included a copy of one of my electric bills. It is very cheap because I didn’t have to use much A/C. That just left the fridge, lights, and my laptop which don’t add up to much.
$400 rent is very do-able, my daughter’s rent is $395 in Oregon, Oh (right outside of Toledo) for the basic one bedroom, and her electricity is under $30 a month too! The apartment includes appliances, washer and dryer in complex to use for a fee, and a balcony. Added bonus free parking and complex swimming pool.
There are many low cost areas of the U.S. but people in high cost areas do not seem to be aware of this fact.
I agree that the rent is doable. Before we bought our home, my husband and I shared a rental with three other roommates and we each paid $140 a month. It was a small two bedroom, but it was safe and secure. It just depends on what you’re willing to live with and how much lifestyle inflation has crept into your life.
That was really cheap. I recently moved in with my fiancee and there is some lifestyle inflation creeping in.
I don’t doubt your low expenses.
If you can distract yourself from consumerism sufficiently, and you really sharpen your pencil, its easy to keep costs down.
But you do seem to have some creative accounting practices.
Do you pay for health insurance?
Not sure what you mean by creative accounting practices. I post my actual monthly expenses on this site every month. Now that I am getting married some of the expenses will be split unequally but I don’t think that will distort my expenses much.
I do pay for health insurance. I have a high deductible policy that cost me $58 a month. It is ok since I don’t ever have to use it but I’m hoping that when I get a job it will include health insurance.
I had to post a scanned copy of my grocery receipt for people to believe my grocery bill.
I agree with Des it really comes down to what you define as “normal”.
My normal isn’t the same as most people’s normal but I realize that.
The problem is, many people are too lazy to cook from scratch, or actively search reduced/sale/free food.
Before we retired we stayed at Guest House in the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, while visiting relatives. Shared kitchen and bathrooms. They had a “see food” fridge. Every couple of days the owners would pick up unsold, leftover food from mall food courts.Mostly pizza, donuts, rolls. If you saw food in there, you could help yourself. Breakfast was also included in our room price, which was make your own.
I remember once while we were sight seeing, we stopped into a grocery store. Bought a cooked chicken, salad and ate it in a parking lot. gave the rest to the pidgeons. A lot cheaper than eating at a diner.