[MicroBob]

that mortgage looks high to me too...but i guess you'll pay off your house faster of course.


i don't currently lead the most luxurious life and I have no kids...so my expenses are certainly much less than most.
Similar to that of a single, just-out-of-school, bachelor.
My car is entirely paid off. It's a piece of crap and I will be purchasing a new one in the near future.
Also note that I don't drive very much since I work from home.


rent - $500
heat/elect/phone/cable/internet/health ins - $600
food (grociers and dining out - $1000
car expenses (gas/maintenance/insurance) - $300
other - $300

(other includes my cat, soccer-league fees, cleaning products, toiletries, etc....this figure could more realistically be as little as $100/mth I think)


so my total monthly nut is around $2700.

And I think this is a little bit of a stretch because I think I am high on a couple of figures.

Of course, there are unexpected expenses....and I take more vacations than most which I don't count in my monthly-nut. These trips come only if I feel I can afford them.
Perhaps I should include them in the nut...not sure.


anyway, if you are young and live with a roommate or significant-other to cover almost half of these costs then you could easily be in a situation where your portion of the monthly-expenses is $2k.