cheapest budget

[damian63]

whats the cheapest budget you ever lived off wether it be monthly or annualy and what did all the money go to

 

[josephusminimus]

$25 per week doing farm labor when I was a youngster.&nbsp; Bought clothes and food with it.<br /><br />$57 per month as a buck private in the US Army.&nbsp; Can't recall how I spent it, but it vanished, as I don't have it anymore that I've been able to find.<br /><br />In more recent times my money's mostly gone to buying cat food, attempting to save something every month, and projects I intended but mostly won't finish because I'm hitting the road.

 

[Seraphim]

I can't remember back that far...

I think it was 2.50 an hour after high school. $50 to my parents for room and board, $50 car payment, plus insurance and gas. rest went to savings for college. When I started college, my dad handed me back all the money I'd given him for room and board. He'd saved it. Stated he merely wanted to teach me to budget, and that there was no such thing as a free ride.

The lesson stuck.

 

[IGBT]

These past 2 months we've lived on around $900/month, &amp; $800 of that was rent. &nbsp;$40 for internet. $10 for phone. &nbsp;$50 for groceries<br />(my fiance couldn't find a job, &amp; we thought we'd have to move out at the end of September, so we were trying to empty the freezer, which meant we spent hardly anything on groceries)<br />Now that he's working again, we're going to be living on $1000/month or less, with the same costs as above (except more budgeted for food) for the next year &amp; a half, so we can save as much as possible for when we can take off in our van &nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

<br /><br />Ouch.&nbsp; Find a cheaper place or share a 2bd apt with another couple?&nbsp; spending 80% of your monthly budget on housing is pretty bad.

 

[She]

&nbsp;(we live in an expensive city, $800 is normal price for a 1 bedroom apartment, we have a 2 bedroom apartment in a house that's been converted to 3 apartments, in a really nice neighborhood, with access to a pool)

<br /><br />OMG LOL sorry but here in New York a 1 bedroom goes for 1200 bucks.&nbsp;Thats&nbsp;great though that you 2 can put that much away.

 

[rvwandering]

Another old one here <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> <br /><br />Way back in 1976 we loaded up our VW van and took off to see the US. We had about $4,000 of hard earned money which lasted about a year so around $330.00 a month. Translated into today's money that's about $12,700 a year / 1060 a month.<br /><br />&nbsp;It takes about $3.20 today to equal a 1976 $1.00<br />&nbsp;Gas was around 60 cents a gallon<br />&nbsp;Public campgrounds were much more primitive and cost about $4.00 a night ,free off season.<br /><br />&nbsp;We crisscrossed the country and saw most of the national parks in the southwest and southeast , most of California and some of New England but missed the Pacific northwest.<br /><br />&nbsp;Campgrounds are a lot more expensive now in many areas and gas is higher so doing this today would take more money. I hope I got all of the figures right!

 

[Les H]

I can't remember back that far...

I think it was 2.50 an hour after high school. $50 to my parents for room and board, $50 car payment, plus insurance and gas. rest went to savings for college. When I started college, my dad handed me back all the money I'd given him for room and board. He'd saved it. Stated he merely wanted to teach me to budget, and that there was no such thing as a free ride.

The lesson stuck.

Way to go Dad! Same treatment i got , more or less. My kids think its downright abusive...

 

[angeli]

IGBT,<br /><br />80% on rent IS pretty bad, but it is the way that many are forced to live, as landlords raise rents and businesses do not raise wages.<br /><br />I remember living in Santa Fe, NM in the mid-90s.&nbsp; My husband worked in an art gallery, and I worked for a construction firm as an office manager (My paintings were not selling enough to bring in a consistent income, sadly)<br /><br />My husbands entire salary, including commissions went into rent, and mine went into living expenses.&nbsp; We lived in a tiny one bedroom apartment.&nbsp; It was the nature of the place.&nbsp; Not all cities are owned by absentee landlords, but more and more are.

 

[AvitorJake]

Hey,<br /><br />I predict on my monthly budget to be little over 1,000 per month.&nbsp;<br /><br />If you look at it by line-item, my biggest expense is in the lot at which I'm residing.&nbsp;<br /><br /><table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 96pt;" width="128" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><colgroup><col style="width: 48pt;" span="2" width="64" /> </colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 15.0pt;"><td style="height: 15.0pt; width: 48pt;" width="64" height="20">Fuel</td><td style="width: 48pt;" align="right" width="64">150</td></tr><tr style="height: 15.0pt;"><td style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">Insurance</td><td align="right">0</td></tr><tr style="height: 15.0pt;"><td style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">RV</td><td align="right">160</td></tr><tr style="height: 15.0pt;"><td style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">Food</td><td align="right">200</td></tr><tr style="height: 15.0pt;"><td style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">Comm</td><td align="right">0</td></tr><tr style="height: 15.0pt;"><td style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">Lot</td><td align="right">550</td></tr><tr style="height: 15.0pt;"><td style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr style="height: 15.0pt;"><td style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">&nbsp;</td><td align="right">1060</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /><br />I'm entering 0 in insurance because It is much more economical to pay insurance up front versus monthly, so it is zero. Remembering Dave Ramsey, instant vs. delayed gratification. It would be roughly 160-200 per month (Soley upon age, experience...) I would wind up paying 50-100 less if I payed in full 6 months. I plan to do this with the insurance on the TT as well.&nbsp;<br /><br />Comm. or Communications is left blank as well. I can pay $300 and have no payments for the year. So I save an extra $300 just by saving up and being patient.&nbsp;<br /><br />I'm a recent high school grad and I've been in the workforce for just under 2 years. I make little over minimum wage. If there was a poverty line, I would be at it. It would be alright because I would be living on my own, not on my parents income and lifestyle.&nbsp;<br /><br /><br />Best Regards,<br /><br />Jake</p>

 

[peacetara]

The cheapest I ever lived was when I was homeless with maybe $100 or $150 in a month that I could beg or trade which averages to about $5/day.&nbsp; This was back in 1994/1995 time frame.<br /><br /> Most all of my food came from the soup kitchen (1 meal a day) and leftovers from strangers.<br /><br />Today my budget is around $500/month for living on. Triple what I lived on before, and it doesn't seem like enough!&nbsp; I'm hoping to increase my budget to $1k month come January, and then I'll be golden!

 

[yesican]

Tara...don't know how you do it.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp; I lived on about $1,000/month prior to moving to Alaska in 2005.&nbsp; It was tough because I was raising my oldest daughter and paying $400/mo child support for my younges.t&nbsp; My ex made more than $100,000 every year.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; Still, those were good years for me because my girls and I grew so much through the struggles.&nbsp; My youngest did move back with me before her senior year (still paid child support to the ex though because I didn't have the money to go back to Michigan to fight it out in court and he loves his money).&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; My wages in Alaska allow me to live very comfortably as a middle class individual...took me a while, but I'm there.&nbsp;&nbsp;It's nice not&nbsp;living paycheck to paycheck but not sure its worth it given the horrid hours I work to achieve that.&nbsp; Life was simpler when I couldn't get full time work and had more time with family and doing those other things I enjoy such as exploring, gardening,&nbsp;building, exercising,&nbsp;etc.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; Life just isn't all about the money anymore...Before my sister was killed, she&nbsp;would always say..."I want to go back to the bus life" because she, like most of us, got caught up in the vacuum of society that dictates how&nbsp;we all need that mansion on hill and a big fat paycheck to&nbsp;pay for&nbsp;it.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; I've tasted middle class, I'm ready to go back to $1000 a month if it means fresh air, beautiful sunsets and sunrises, and a broken watch.<br />&nbsp; Rae<br /><br />&nbsp;

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

^^^<br /><br />I found this post a little inspiring <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

 

[She]

Now<br />700 Rent<br />150 Cell phone/Internet<br />250 Food/includes my pet food<br />000 As of this month/No CC payment(200 when I was paying)Had to add that! LOL<br />125 Transp.(Bus,train...etc)<br />=1225<br /><br />Hopefully then(Van)<br />150 Rent(Insurance/Mail box/Gym<br />60 Cell phone(Will be using free WIFI for internet)<br />250 Food Until pet passes on&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><br />Gas 125(I am job camping not traveling much yet)<br />=585<br /><br />Savings -640 a month<br /><br />Basics of course I&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;add a few things like ..laundry and the soap and all that but its the basic.<br /><br />I have gone lower then before. But this is the second lowest. My rent for a studio at one time was 300 bucks a month!!!!<br /><br />Jake I like your idea about paying insurance in full, Something I think I will do. Don't forget the 6 hour driving course too!!!<br /><br /><br />

 

[offroad]

most people seem to be getting along on the road with $1000 per month ($12000 per year). some need more, some less. Thats all expenses (not including medical).

Medical seems to be covered separately as a retirement benefit (Medicare or pensioner insurance or Veteren). Am absolutely in awe of those who have no medical benefits, and just decide in USA culture to take the chances. The rest of 90% of the world have no medical insurance.

 

[Journeyman]

Was<br /><br />Rent house 600<br />cell / internet 150<br />Food 250<br />Gas 120<br /><br />total 1120<br /><br /><br />Then<br /><br />Rent room 300<br />cell / internet 100<br />food 200<br />Gas 60<br /><br />total 660<br /><br />now<br /><br />rent 0 &nbsp; &nbsp;living in van in church parking lot<br />cell 25 Go-phone<br />food 200<br />gas40<br /><br />total 265<br /><br />plus insurance has always been 70<br /><br />Rae: I don't even know where my watch is, and I like it that was.<br /><br />

 

[AvitorJake]

&nbsp;Life just isn't all about the money anymore...Before my sister was killed, she&nbsp;would always say..."I want to go back to the bus life" because she, like most of us, got caught up in the vacuum of society that dictates how&nbsp;we all need that mansion on hill and a big fat paycheck to&nbsp;pay for&nbsp;it.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<br />- Yesican<br /><br />My parents, dad&nbsp;especially&nbsp;is very traditional. "It is how it is and there is nothing you can do about it." type personality. We have all been brainwashed by the mass-media and PR firms out there that the true definition of success is having multitudes of bank accounts and loads of cash. That mentality has brought people countless thousands of dollars of&nbsp;unnecessary&nbsp;debt. Living out on your own in a TT, van, Class-A or whatever is going against that grain of thinking and I enjoy that. No where does it say WE have to buy a multi-thousand dollar house and mortgage it out for 30 yrs? Or go to college and rack THOUSANDS of dollars in student loans just because that what "they" did. No thank you.

 

[user 2252]

Let's see, my figures.<br /><br />Car Payment= 360.00<br />Car Insurance= 125.00<br />Cell Phone/Internet=100<br />Rented room=200.00<br />Food=100.00<br /><br />All this on a fixed income.

 

[imixmuan]

@VonBrown...wow, a 360/month car payment, 125/month insurance and renting a room for 200 per month?<br /><br />Mr Money Mustache would probably not approve:<br /><br />http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/04/04/reader-case-study-working-a-crappy-job-for-nothing/<br /><br />Not everything Mr Money Mustache has to say is applicable to the readers of this forum, but his basic tennants of: stop eating out, stop buying stuff you don't actually need, bike or walk as much as humanly possible and never, ever have a car payment, ever, make a whole lot of sense. I highly recommend reading his entire blog, from start to finish, then head over to Extreme Early Retirement for more inspiration. If I had followed this advice 15 years ago, I'd be retired and fulltiming it right now.

 

[offroad]

Love the TIGHTWAD GAZETTE lady. Have to check out Mr. Money Mustache.

 

[offroad]

http://earlyretirementextreme.com/how-i-live-on-7000-per-year.html

http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/

just links for those who want to click through