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monkeybride
My Everything
Member since 5/05 20541 total posts
Name:
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Is $1200 a month enough?
Once all the bills are paid would you be able to live on $1200 for groceries, gas, going out to eat, any entertainment really, say hair cuts, nails, car maintenance, etc.
For 2 people and a baby?
Clothes probably wouldn't be included in this amount.
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Posted 9/7/05 10:09 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
Kris
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 1051 total posts
Name:
Kristine
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
We do it on $800 a month... but we don't give ourselves many luxuries....
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| Posted 9/7/05 10:11 PM |
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DjPiLL
Member since 5/05 3664 total posts
Name:
Richard
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
My current budget is about $1200 a month for those expenses... but just for me.
But I also work in Manhattan.... so some stuff is more expensive for me (like my lunches).
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| Posted 9/7/05 10:12 PM |
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monkeybride
My Everything
Member since 5/05 20541 total posts
Name:
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
Posted by DjPiLL
My current budget is about $1200 a month for those expenses... but just for me.
But I also work in Manhattan.... so some stuff is more expensive for me (like my lunches).
There wouldn't really be very many lunches out and probably not dinners either with a new baby.
It's a temporary budget but I am just trying to see if its realistic for several months.
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| Posted 9/7/05 10:15 PM |
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Eva Luna
Be kind...life's hard!
Member since 8/05 4750 total posts
Name:
God, bless & heal my DH, JenG's DH Rob & DebG
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
It can definitely be done. We make it on a lot less than that.
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| Posted 9/7/05 10:16 PM |
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DjPiLL
Member since 5/05 3664 total posts
Name:
Richard
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
You should do what I am doing. Buy a program like Microsoft Money.
Use it to track ALL of your spending. It will help you decide if you can manage this or not.
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| Posted 9/7/05 10:20 PM |
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rose825
Best Friends
Member since 6/05 10228 total posts
Name:
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
Posted by sasha
It can definitely be done. We make it on a lot less than that.
same here
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| Posted 9/7/05 10:22 PM |
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monkeybride
My Everything
Member since 5/05 20541 total posts
Name:
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
Posted by DjPiLL
You should do what I am doing. Buy a program like Microsoft Money.
Use it to track ALL of your spending. It will help you decide if you can manage this or not.
DH has something like this set up and it seems it can be done. Its just that I am so used to spending and not having to think about it that it's going to seem a little strange the few months we have to really stick to a budget. But I guess it will be good too because it will teach me about necessities and non necessities and spending less.
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| Posted 9/7/05 10:23 PM |
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DjPiLL
Member since 5/05 3664 total posts
Name:
Richard
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
Posted by monkeybride
Its just that I am so used to spending and not having to think about it
EXACTLY! I am in the same exact position.
I have been a VERY bad spender for all my life. Mainly because I was able to.
But now I am buying a house... so I MUST start budgeting myself.
My one issue thats a little different than yours is... I am still DJing so I theoretically don't have to start budgeting right now.
However I want to start now cause once I stop DJing... i need to be able to carry this mortgage.
So I started my budget last month. I am not touching any of my DJ money. I am pretending like it doesn't even exist and goes right into the emergency savings.
So far... so good. I just hope I am DJing for a little while longer so I can build a nice nest egg.
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| Posted 9/7/05 10:28 PM |
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monkeybride
My Everything
Member since 5/05 20541 total posts
Name:
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
I guess the good thing for us is that other than gas, food and baby stuff nothing else would be considered a necessity so it can all be adjusted if needed.
This is the first month of trying it out so we'll see how it goes. We have a nice cushion to pull from if need be but the goal is not to do that.
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| Posted 9/7/05 10:34 PM |
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dm24angel
Happiness
Member since 5/05 34581 total posts
Name:
Donna
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
We budget that amount monthly actually, but we go over every month. We tend to fall short on things like Birthdays, we are big gift givers and have tried to cut down on this, extra food for a special dinner, a work party etc can be an extra $50-$100 a month for us...
Those are just examples, but we dont want to raise our budget, so while we tend to go above that amount it CAN be done,.,
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| Posted 9/7/05 11:11 PM |
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Jesaroo
is not the girl you knew
Member since 5/05 14266 total posts
Name:
Jes
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
i have no idea what our monthly budget is. i only know MY weekly budget. DH has one too, but inever know it i just ask
"you got money?.......... yeah?!! .......lets go out then"
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| Posted 9/7/05 11:49 PM |
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dooodles
When you wish upon a star
Member since 5/05 11997 total posts
Name:
Because 2 people fell in love
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
We actually started charting our expenses last month in excel. Last night we went over what our basic necessities were and then what we consider "disposable income". This way we can see where we are spending everything. And we track each expense even down to coffe and newspapers just for accuracy purposes
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| Posted 9/8/05 7:42 AM |
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usuk2004
I'm ONE!
Member since 5/05 5150 total posts
Name:
Farah
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
Posted by monkeybride
I guess the good thing for us is that other than gas, food and baby stuff nothing else would be considered a necessity so it can all be adjusted if needed.
This is the first month of trying it out so we'll see how it goes. We have a nice cushion to pull from if need be but the goal is not to do that.
I think trying it out is the best way to see - this way, you'll be saving money before you need to really be on that budget anyway.
Good luck!
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| Posted 9/8/05 7:51 AM |
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
We have 2 kids and have less than 1200 a month with our bills and all the rest of expenses.....we are not living check to check but it would be nice to have alittle more $$$$
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| Posted 9/8/05 8:03 AM |
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suvenR
designer mutt
Member since 5/05 4239 total posts
Name:
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
Posted by DjPiLL
My current budget is about $1200 a month for those expenses... but just for me.
But I also work in Manhattan.... so some stuff is more expensive for me (like my lunches).
that's an exact DITTO for me 
But, I don't plan on working in NYC that much longer...
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| Posted 9/8/05 8:35 AM |
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btrflygrl
me and baby #3!
Member since 5/05 12013 total posts
Name:
Shana
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
heck yea!!! WE do it on around $400 if we're lucky! No going out (only when we get a gift card), no more pedicures for me (for now). Food is about $100-$120 every 2 weeks. Gas is about $40-$50 a week for both cars
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| Posted 9/8/05 9:08 AM |
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monkeybride
My Everything
Member since 5/05 20541 total posts
Name:
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
Posted by dm24angel
We budget that amount monthly actually, but we go over every month. We tend to fall short on things like Birthdays, we are big gift givers and have tried to cut down on this, extra food for a special dinner, a work party etc can be an extra $50-$100 a month for us...
Those are just examples, but we dont want to raise our budget, so while we tend to go above that amount it CAN be done,.,
Yeah I worry about birthdays, weddings, xmas and such but I guess we'll pull from other money if we fall short for things like that. I guess we just try our best and see how it goes.
See that has always been our budget but we never made it but we have lot of big purchases that we really shouldn't have now.
Thanks for the feedback though it helps to know people are doing it.
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| Posted 9/8/05 9:16 AM |
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Lichi
what what!?
Member since 5/05 4206 total posts
Name:
Lissette
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
That's like $150/week each... I think that's more than enough. I do that now, and always turn extra dough over to my personal savings.
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| Posted 9/8/05 9:31 AM |
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LadyMaravilla
Fall Is Here
Member since 5/05 12023 total posts
Name:
Sonia
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
That sounds good to me. This summer it feels like we've spent a lot more money and tougher to stick to a budget...I think that's what we end up using for food & laundry & extras.
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| Posted 9/8/05 9:33 AM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
Posted by monkeybride
Once all the bills are paid would you be able to live on $1200 for groceries, gas, going out to eat, any entertainment really, say hair cuts, nails, car maintenance, etc.
For 2 people and a baby?
Clothes probably wouldn't be included in this amount.
easily
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| Posted 9/8/05 9:34 AM |
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
I think thats more than enough.
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| Posted 9/8/05 9:37 AM |
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MrsERod
Praying for Everyone.
Member since 5/05 26170 total posts
Name:
MrsERod™®
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Re: Is $1200 a month enough?
hmm... good question:
$100/week - average groceries (family of 4) = $400
$80/week - gas  = ....................................$320
$120/month, eating out 2x (same family of 4)= $120
which all equals $840, leaving $360 for extras like hair, nails, movies.
i think that's quite doable!!
Message edited 9/8/2005 9:44:02 AM.
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| Posted 9/8/05 9:43 AM |
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