What are your biggest household expenses other than rent/mortgage?
By ShadyGrove
@ShadyGrove (996)
United States
April 14, 2007 9:12am CST
It seems that utilities and food costs are getting higher and higher all the time. Besides my mortgage the biggest expense for our family is the car payment followed by the heating and electric costs. After that would come the food/grocery shopping bills. Then would come the phone/internet and cell phone costs.
Is there much left over at the end of the month! lol
I am on a budget plan with the propane/heat so that they spread the payments out over the year -- I get the propane at a cheaper cost that way, but my bill is always the same - so even in the summer I pay the same as in the winter. It's easier to budget, but you do not ever get a break on the monthly bills.
Does anybody else have any ways, like a budget plan, they they use to help save in costs?
6 people like this
18 responses
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
15 Apr 07
Well it depends on if you count house insurance in with the mortgage or seperate. If it is seperate then it's higher then our mortgage. Yeah, I know that's pretty bad but that's Florida right now for you.
If not then our highest would be our electric company at least in the summer time, it can at times be higher then the mortgage without the insurance. In the winter it's the grocery shopping. Then the internet/phone and cable, it's all in one for us. We don't have a cell phone so don't have that one thankfully. However we do have car insurance. It all adds up really quick, too quick at times.
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
15 Apr 07
It's horrible down here with the insurances. Our insurance is built into our house payment so we only have the one. Our house payment almost tripled since we first started which was only 7 years ago and it's all because of the insurances. It's crazy right now and part of it is because so many insurance companies have left florida for housing insurance. You have to use the last resort one from the state and they charge an arm and a leg.
1 person likes this
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
15 Apr 07
That is so not right ~ the state should be working to do something to help the people, not give them an option that is making it hard to make a go of it in Florida.
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
15 Apr 07
wow! Florida must be going nuts down there!
I grew up in Florida and lived there for about 4 years as well after I was married - haven't lived in Florida for about 10 years now. The insurance costs must have sky-rocketed with all the disasters there.
That's terrible that it costs so much just to have a home anymore.
2 people like this
@creematee (2810)
• United States
14 Apr 07
Yeah, I think that is about right. Our monthly expense whittles down this way... Mortgage, Car, Groceries, Clothing and School supplies, then Utilties (gas & electricity).
We just bought a corn burning stove this winter, so our gas costs went down. Corn is high on the list but it's only for 3 months. If we had the room to store it all summer, we could probably buy leftover seed corn in the spring, after the farmers get their lot at a really good discount. We don't have central air, and I dry my clothing on a clothes line in the summer, so that reduces the utility prices in the warmer days as well.
I only wish our grocery store would set me up on a budget plan. LOL!!! I buy far too much during the year!!!
2 people like this
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
15 Apr 07
hmm I've never heard of a corn burning stove? Does that work like the pellet stoves?
I know what you mean about groceries -- they are SOOO high anymore. You can't get out of the store with food for the week without cringing at the total.
@creematee (2810)
• United States
16 Apr 07
Yes, the corn burning stove is exactly like the pellet stoves. The only difference, really, is that it burns corn instead of wood pellets. Corn seems to be a lot cheaper than those little pellets.
On budgeting the utilities? Does the utility company average out what the costs were during the previous year? Does it go up or down from year to year? I've always wondered how that worked.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
14 Apr 07
My biggest household expenses other than my mortgage are, utilities, food and gas in the car for my husband to get back and forth to work. That takes alot of our money. My electric bill and natural gas bill are very expensive every month. Food is about to break us. We cannot buy enough at one time to stock up for the month. My water and sewer bill is always high also. It is over $100.00 every month. My husband drives 45 miles one way to work for 5 days a week and the gas prices are killing us. We used to have a car payment but I am paying it off this month with a loan we recently got. I budget my money every month. I figure up what I have coming in and what is going out every month. I do not overspend and I always put a little in savings for emergencies. There are some months where there is 5 weeks and I buy our extras with that money.
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
15 Apr 07
wow that does seem high for the water and sewer bill. We have a well as we are rural, so at least we do not have to pay for that or sewer.
That's a long commute -- I drive about 22 miles one way to work, so I feel for you guys with the almost double cost.
I try to stock up on non-perishables when I can and when there is a good sale on at the grocery store.
Thanks for your response!
@awonderfullife (2893)
• United States
15 Apr 07
Our gas/electric bill! It averages $3090 a month! Closer to $450 in the winter. May and June we usually get a break- it can go as low as $150 a month because there's usually no air conditioning or heat on. I really can't wait for that- this April has been FREEZING so the heat has been on full blast!!
2 people like this
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
15 Apr 07
I think we're gonna be waiting for a break for a while yet! Another storm headed our way - Those are high bills, but mine are right up there with yours!
1 person likes this
@mememama (3076)
• United States
14 Apr 07
We got our internet, landline phone, two cell phones, and satellite television on one bill. It's much cheaper that way! Other than that, we've got water, electricity, garbage, gas, car, rent, and insurance. It adds up so quickly! I do have a food budget, like I only give myself $100 a week for the three of us.
2 people like this
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
15 Apr 07
you must manage your food money very well!
Does that include eating out at all? or do you plan and take your lunch from home as well?
I tried to get all of our internet/satellite/phones etc on one bill, but we are very rural and are very limited on what service is available to us for the phone/long distance/cell. In fact we have no cell phone service at our house -- I live in Pennsylvania, but got a New York cell phone # as I work in NY and the phone does me absolutely no good at my house! lol
1 person likes this
@neenasatine (2841)
• Philippines
14 Apr 07
yes the food cost.the electricity, water... electricity here is expensive compare to Japan's electricity cost. im here in the philippines
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
15 Apr 07
How expensive is electric where you are?
Thanks for responding!
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
15 Apr 07
There isn't much left after I pay the rent, usually. In fact, there was a time where I couldn't even make as much as the rent. I would say, right now, that the biggest expense is my student loan payment. Right now, it's tied with my grocery bill, but the loan payment is expected to go up later this year. Then, I would say gas and maintenance on my car is next and household items such as trash bags, make-up, toothpaste, etc would be next. I could also add clothes, but I only buy them once in a while.
1 person likes this
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
15 Apr 07
How does the student loan go up? I thought those had fixed payments? That's terrible -- where you able to find a job in the field you studied for? You mentioned cost of things like toothpaste -- I can't believe the cost of brand name toothpaste and deoderant anymore! It's incredible! I'm just glad they last a while.
@Penguinsangel (3498)
• United States
15 Apr 07
Well after the rent it would be cable/internet together. During the winter months next would be electric.
We put money away into our savings, so we have a cushion in case some kind of emergecy comes up. I am very thankful for such a nice little cushion, it has come in handy a few times.
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
15 Apr 07
yes, we try to keep some savings going on too -- I start to panic when the savings keep getting dipped in to ~! lol I want to keep that cushion for when we might really need it.
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
15 Apr 07
mine is the education of my children and their respective allowances...right now i ahve only 2 daughters who are now in college one is taking up nursing and the other one is education..my other had already finish school at least..and theyre working now..i really need to have a budget to make ends meet..since i give importance on their education
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
15 Apr 07
That's a wonderful thing though -- education is so important. My 2 boys are still in elementary and jr high yet. The day is coming though when we'll have the college expenses hitting us.
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
15 Apr 07
WOW~ What does that relate to in US Dollars?
The people of your country should unite to try and force the cost down -- that is crazy!
@roque20 (518)
• Philippines
15 Apr 07
The biggest household expenses other than rent and mortage is the fare when going to school.Our school is far from our home and i need to have one hour ride to go to school and the fare here is very expensive so every month i spend 2000 per month so its very big just for the fare.
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
15 Apr 07
That is a long ride everyday. Do you use the time to study and do your school work? or sleep?
How much is that fare in U.S. Dollars? It sounds like an awful lot!
@anant123 (66)
• United States
15 Apr 07
phone bill is one of the biggest household expense for me...
i belive in making relations and so i have many many friends in all parts of india..and i use my phone to be in touch with them and thus its a big expense for me ...
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
15 Apr 07
That's great you can keep in touch. Have you tried the computer phone where you wouldn't have the expense of a regular phone call? Don't know if that is available in your country or not.
@luannemay (258)
• Philippines
15 Apr 07
Our biggest household expenses are electric bill, telephone and internet bills.
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
15 Apr 07
yes, and how can we live without any of these!!!
I don't see how the phone and internet should cost so much - the companies are making such a huge profit!
@rony1989 (22)
• India
15 Apr 07
i really cant find a particular field which i can say that its my biggest expense. i spend loads on food in restaurants cause am a real food lover, same goes for the fuel in my bike cause it runs over a 100 km a day. leaving that i spend loads on renting movies, buying audio c.d.s n investing a lot in electronic gadgets.
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
15 Apr 07
well at least it sounds like you are spending your money on lots of fun stuff! :o)
@chaime (1152)
• Philippines
21 Apr 07
hmmm for us i think it would be the electric bill, specially with the heat here in our country, the electric fan and air conditioner always seem to keep on running. Plus it's vacation time so the tv and other recreation always seem to be on. The next would be our phone bill (with internet) food also seems to take up most of our budget. I think those are the top three things we spent money on
@easy888 (10405)
• Australia
15 Apr 07
I think if I am considering the expenses for myself, the biggest part of expenses come from food. It is very expensive to eat out in Sydney, on average, you have to pay 7 to 8 USD ,even a lunch ,you will then be full after this meal,otherwise you will not feel enough if you eat cheaper ones. The food you bought at the supermarket is not cheap either, you will find that 50 dollars will be gone in one minutes but you will not get much food, I also notice that the price of food have been increasing in the past few years even the Australian dollars is increasing in value, I think the supermarket must earn alot in pushing the price up, they earn more out of our pocket, that is why I do not have much saving left every month.
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
15 Apr 07
I think the electric bill is a killer for most people!
Thanks for commenting on this.
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
15 Apr 07
I remember having to buy diapers and baby items -- when I had 2 in diapers at the same time we were really running short on money every week!