Tavel

I'm getting married next summer and need to figure a lot of things out.

But first, I need to formulate a budget to make sure it's POSSIBLE to get married. I can venture a good estimate for my existing bills (phone and auto-insurance), as well as some prospective bills like rent/mortgage (hopefully mortgage!) and broadband internet (no cable, I only watch 2-3 hours of TV a WEEK...most people are into 2-3 hours a DAY, lolz).

But I'm a little lost when it comes to groceries and utilities. How much would two people spend on groceries and utilities? I know it varies by location, but I have no idea and I'm reluctant to ask friends and family because that would kind of ruin the surprise.

I'm thinking $200-$250 is a good guess on groceries, but I'm completely clueless on utilities.


any helpsies?

Shawnie

a week for the two of you, I would guess about 70 bucks...of course the initial start up will be about 3-400 for all the beginning stuff...ketchup, mustard, toilet paper , toothpaste etc...if you both work full time, and depending on what you have for heat and hot water setups, will depend on electricity..so more info would help

Dino

5 people in CWC's and my home runs about 150$ a month.

Shawnie

theres 3 of us here and its over $150 a month..but we have electric heat....and since got a woodstove so hopefully that will be lower!!

Tavel

haha, it seems to be very widely variable. I think I'll have to ask friend's and family to get a more localized value. Good news though, all of the apartments in my area have utilities included in rent. Renting was the failsafe arrangement, so since that works with my budget (with a good margin) I'm free to move forward with other plans.

Pow, June 27th, 2009. It's business time.

Lucy

If there's one peice of advice I'd give about buying a home is base what you buy one income not your combined incomes.

I know too many people that are in over their heads when one spouse lost or wanted to leave their job.

Utilities can vary depending on your location, seasons, source of power etc.

Good luck to you both.

Tavel

I understand the logic behind that, it makes good sense. Unfortunately, neither of us makes enough money to support even the cheapest residency. This arrangement is only temporary though (2-3 years), so I think it's a safe bet (especially if we rent, very little accountability there). I'll have AES equivalency soon enough and can get a decent job as a junior engineer (doing drafting, calibrating equipment, the grunt work) so things will get better.

I will certainly keep that in mind when we start looking for a more permanent arrangement.

Before you shake your heads about moving out before finishing school, take note that I'm 23. I'm only still in school because I have to work my way through, very slowly. Getting married won't change my my net financial burden much at all because I'll get government financial aid (for tuition). Trading tuition for rent is more than agreeable IMO, lol.

(The government assumes your parents pay for you school unless you're A.) over 25 or B.) married. I'm neither, so I don't get any money regardless of the fact my parents DON'T actually pay for my school...they give me nothing. I've only made it this far out of sheer determination to get to the sweet side of life).

Fish Guy

You will buy under $100 of groceries if you dont buy anything you don't need.