How much do we actually need?

To me,the calculation to find out how much do one actually need to survive can't say anything.Firstly,you don't fall form sky,so you need to provide you parents and to breed your childen.secondly,surviving is a consecution,you can't only survive today,this month or this year,you consume something that you got before,so you need to prepare something for the future.Thirdly,you maybe get ill or become old in one day when you can't work,so you need saving some money for urgent needing.In those mean,salary is buying-power that you get.Further more,salary is substance that you can use in you mind,so you can get calm from salary.

its just that we all have a case of consumeritis which means we just buy, buy and buy even if we dont need the stuff. we still keep buying. if we only bought what we needed and not what we wanted, it would be very different.

$800? lol =D That's not gonna be enough for me for sure! It's way too low for me to survive even if i'm spending like u. My food per month is already costing me at least $800 while my bills are choking up at about $200. Not to mention my household expenses as well as some miscellanous fees, i think i would need about 2k or more to survive.. haha

I do my calculations every month, and every month based on that my salary is just enough to pay for all the bills and give me a little more savings... But even with that, every single month, I still come up short.. I guess it's those little things that we buy, or those sale stuff that I was tempted to swipe in my card that really sets me back..

With all the utility bills, and food and other expenses, I might need more than $800 to keep myself survive here though. Money is never enough, and we need more than simply a hermit life right? We have our desires, and wants for different things from television commercials and other seductions. So, more and more money we wish to get. We definitely look forward to make more money, don't we all?

Hi Sanitary, I guess when you started this discussion, you are thinking of the here and now. For many, the amount is for planning down the road for retirement. I am quite curious how you arrive at the figure for living in sg. We could meet and discuss. If it were really true, I pay you a meal. If I show you that what you calculated may not be sufficient, maybe you buy me a meal? hehe.. Have you taken into account the following. 1) housing (including taxes) and utilities 2) children and their education + the rest of the same list. 3) insurance 4) transport 5) other taxes 6) groceries and food 7) basic entertainment 8) clothing 9) for you cosmetics and beauty treatments (eg. hair salon or even QB) and most importantly 8) medical consultation and contingencies (or accurately emergencies) and many more... (

I am a freak when it comes to budgeting. Before I even spend our earnings, I need to put all the basic necessities and commodities on paper and allot certain amounts for it. I have the need to see if all will be met. However, despite the budgeting, there will still be lots and lots of things that need to be addressed financially. I always felt like our money is never enough to cover all things :( I guess calculations and budgeting is not enough. What I need right now is an additional source of income to make all ends meet.

I don't really need alot for myself because I don't spend much. But I do set aside for monthly expenses, bills and insurance.

It is hard to say how much i need because what me and my huby earn right now is just enough for our needs, barely to some luxuries. The thing is, i have 3 kids so i guess i need more for me to be able to give them their basic needs.

Well, good discussion here. I never calculated how much I actually need to sustain the daily life and some necessary entertainment, but I know it won't be a great number. However, I have to earn as much as I can in order to afford a house in the city, where the price of house is so high. And I also have to do much saving for buying a car which is so necessary a tool. As a result, although I don't need very much to survive, I really need a high salary to get the foundation of my life. Then, maybe my life will be a little relaxing~~

I really got my hands full when it comes to budgeting, sometimes even w/o knowing it my mind is running into countless budgeting schemes and Im trying hard to figure out how can our money at hand can be utilized and worked out to the fullest. I really can't give you a figure but what we work on what we have. My husband's job isnt as stable as mine, so budgeting is a must.