Originally Posted by
JBen
I budget $100/month for Nat Gas. This month the bill was $52.
I don't call a 1,500 sq foot bungalow Substantial :) Some might.
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Again, not sure what "this" (although I do know/understand what your driving at) has to do with the price of tea in China. :)
Lets use a mythical, typical (based on averages and means because thats all we can really "use") family of four.
Last time I checked. They have to eat (stoves and ovens are high consumption appliances). They have to do laundry another high consumption draw. Some might say, well they should hang their clothes in the back yard. If they are a hard working couple with kids ( Public Servants or private)....... the mean says they take home $75,000.
Mortgage: Lets say its reasonable, $1,000 month or $12,000/year. For the record thats a $200,000 mortgage (not at all unreasonable) at 2.5% over 30 years.
Land Taxes: Mine are $4,700 /year, again really a sort of moderate place.In fact smaller than what many consider starter family homes (1800sq feet)
Hydro: $3,600 year (average of $300/month)
Water and Gas: $1,800/year or about $150/month (A family of four, especially kids who shower, laundry, flush toilets...) should be higher.
Food? Im not sure what an average family of four might need for food budgets these days. Wild guess $200/week or $10,400 year. They do have to cook and eat.
Gas? I put on more mileage than what statistics say is the norm. My budget (only 1 person/1 vehicle) is $3,600/year. Am sure a family of four it's higher.
House/Car insurance: $240 month or roughly $5,200 year (just 1 car)
Lets add that up.
Roughly, give or take and rounding
$40,000
Taxes and others.
Well you get the picture. It ain't pretty for most.
Is it ok, are they allowed to live a little because after taxes...Well I can do that to. Hopefully I don't have to.