Expectations and Budgeting

[reteo]

I'm currently in the process of cleaning out any and all debts I have, or ever had.  Once that is completed, I plan to store up a chunk of change to move and live in NH.

I am planning to budget a total of 3 months of expenses in the above chunk, in preparation for a possibly difficult job search.  However, while apartments are pretty easy to look up, the miscellaneous costs, such as Internet, utilities (excepting phone and TV; the Internet pretty much covers all communication and entertainment/information needs), expected grocery costs, fuel, and so forth, are a bit more difficult to quantify.

In the above categories (Internet, utilities, groceries, fuel), how much do you current residents spend on average?  Per week/per month, use whatever criteria you choose.

Oh, and to clarify: The utilities I'm interested in knowing about are water, gas, electricity, sewage/disposal, and garbage collection.

[realist]

I am also interested in the answer to this question.

[Kat Kanning]

Rent + water/sewer/garbage $400/mo
Electricity $100/mo
Other heat (4 months or more) $100/mo
Insurance $400/yr
Internet $45/mo
Gasoline $30/week
VoIP phone $30/mo
Groceries $150/week for family of three

[cathleeninnh]

You are going to get big differences from one response to the next. Circumstances are never the same.

For us:
Rent,water,heat $800/mo
Electricity $45/mo
Cable, internet $114/mo
Phone $199/yr
Car insurance $585/yr
Car taxes $182/yr
groceries $195/mo for 2 people
gasoline $17/wk

[Viscid]

Water/Sewer/Electric: $100/mo
Garbage: $40/mo
Groceries (for 3): $200/mo
Internet: $50/mo
Phone(voip): $15/mo
Gasoline: $4/wk
Car Insurance: $300/yr
Home Insurance: $800/yr
Heating(4-5 months): $230/mo

[reteo]

You are going to get big differences from one response to the next. Circumstances are never the same.

I certainly agree.  However, having a realistic estimate, based on a worst-case scenario, is better than just blindly guessing how much I need, and then falling short.

In any event, thanks goes to those who have so far answered.  But, for a good average spread and accurate median, more responses certainly would be appreciated.

[LiveFreeOrDie]

In the above categories (Internet, utilities, groceries, fuel), how much do you current residents spend on average?  Per week/per month, use whatever criteria you choose.

Oh, and to clarify: The utilities I'm interested in knowing about are water, gas, electricity, sewage/disposal, and garbage collection.

For our 2800 sq. ft. house- 2 adults, 2 children and frequent overnight guests:

Water: $7.47/mo.
Sewer: $8.18/mo.
Gas (Keyspan Energy- heat/HW): Around $68.00/mo. avg. over past year. (This month was 13.68.)
Electric (PSNH): Avg. $74.23/mo. over past year.
Garbage/recycling- Included in property taxes
Cable (analog basic, no movie channels) + Broadband Internet: $90.11/month
Telephone: $35.00/mo.
Groceries/household goods: $120.-$150./mo.

[margomaps]

Man, I'm seeing some cheap grocery reports here!  We (2 adults) pay about $150/week in Maryland.  Maybe it's because we buy other stuff at the grocery store...toiletries and whatnot.  Or maybe our grocery store is just really freaking expensive.

I saw someone mention "car tax".  What's that in NH?  Do you pay a yearly tax based on the assessed value of your car or something?  I hope not -- even tax-happy Maryland doesn't do that.

[Kat Kanning]

Well, cathleen is one mondo bargain shopper.   I think she was referring to registration costs as "car tax".

[cathleeninnh]

Anything beyond a sticker fee is a tax. We write two checks each year for the car. One to the state(small and not based on age of the car) and one to the town that is based on age . That is clearly a property tax.

I very rarely will buy a food item if it costs more than 10-12 cents an ounce. My meat limit is $1.99 a pound. Fresh and frozen veges $1 a pound. Some meals are meatless. Convenience  items and junk food almost non-existent at my home. I like to cook from scratch. Around here that is about $45 a week for the two of us which includes some but not all nonfood household items like tp, laundry detergent, etc.

[margomaps]

Anything beyond a sticker fee is a tax. We write two checks each year for the car. One to the state(small and not based on age of the car) and one to the town that is based on age . That is clearly a property tax.

I see.  I guess the yearly state one is a registration tax (license plates, paperwork, etc.  Looks to be ~ $25), and the town one is for...what exactly?  From what I can tell on the DMV site, the town fee is a percentage of the original sale price of the vehicle.  The percentage decreases with the age of the car.  What is this fee for?  Doesn't it act as a disincentive to buy a new car?  Or perhaps more precisely, an incentive to buy a car that's 4 years old instead of a new one?

I very rarely will buy a food item if it costs more than 10-12 cents an ounce. My meat limit is $1.99 a pound. Fresh and frozen veges $1 a pound. Some meals are meatless. Convenience  items and junk food almost non-existent at my home. I like to cook from scratch. Around here that is about $45 a week for the two of us which includes some but not all nonfood household items like tp, laundry detergent, etc.

Wow, you are frugal!  I also cook much of my food from scratch, but that tends to increase the cost most of the time.  Fresh fruits and veggies, good quality meats, herbs, spices, seasonings...it really adds up.  Still cheaper than eating out, but I'd be hard-pressed to make a nice curry (as an example) for 2 costing less than about $7 in raw materials.  That doesn't count any beverages either.

[Marcy]

Mortgage, water, sewer, condo fee, property taxes:  $754/mo
Electricity $40/mo year round   (we also heat with electric -- I put in energy efficient windows)
Cable, internet $103/mo
Phone $40/month  (2 prepaid cell phones)
groceries $100-120/mo for 2 people 
Car insurance, taxes, registration, repairs, and gasoline  $0
Bus tickets, occasional bike repairs & taxi: maybe $30/month

[cathleeninnh]

I bought a huge supply of cardamom pods online and that cut down the cost tremendously. And we don't often do the lamb because of the cost. Meatless curries are excellent. I only brought 7 boxes when we moved from SC but you can bet 1 of them was my spices. Once I had to stock a kitchen in spices and the bare bare basics ran me $126. My resupply purchases are almost always in bulk and often online.

We eat very well.

Cathleen

[margomaps]

I bought a huge supply of cardamom pods online and that cut down the cost tremendously. And we don't often do the lamb because of the cost. Meatless curries are excellent. I only brought 7 boxes when we moved from SC but you can bet 1 of them was my spices. Once I had to stock a kitchen in spices and the bare bare basics ran me $126. My resupply purchases are almost always in bulk and often online.

Yeah, I think buying cooking supplies in bulk is key.  I seem to pay through the nose for small batches of various herbs and spices, and I suppose I've just been too lazy to do it cheaper over the internet.  You may be able to teach me some valuable money-saving lessons on cooking -- I'm still a newbie chef. 

One of those lessons won't include meatless curry though.  I'm just not up for it...I gotta have chicken in there.  I also love Thai curry with coconut milk, and that can cost almost as much as the meat.   

[Pat K]

You guys have convinced me to buy in bulk, I'M gonna get BEER in Kegs now.