Going overboard with my estimates
By 911Ricki
@911Ricki (13588)
Canada
March 3, 2013 3:52pm CST
I was talking to a friend about my budget, when I move out I made an estimate of what I would spend. Seeing as when ever I have rented in the past the hydro, water, heat were in the rent.
I had written $50 a week for food (this includes toilet paper, laundry soap, etc), $50 a month for hydro, $50 a month for heat (obviously not in summer months), water $50.
She kept saying how I am overboard with it, I wont spend anything near it, she kept saying you don't need another job just to pay it, you will be fine.
It would just be me and the animals, their fees are seperate, such as litter, food, and vet bills in my budget.
I was going off what I pay my parents now, seeing as they get a water bill of $400 minimum a month, $250 hydro, $80 heat, and food $300. I know it wont be close seeing as my brother will never come shower at my house, and spend 2 hours in the shower (the other day I timed him and it was just under 2 hours).
Now the food I know I overbudgetted, I spent $116 in groceries and it will last about 2 - 3 weeks or more depending.
2 people like this
5 responses
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
3 Mar 13
50 dollars for heating may be way too low. I was on budget at 112.00 a month and they say Ontario hydro is more expensive. What I would do if I were you is to call up hydro or your heating company and ask for an estimate, give them the details of the type of house you will be having and so on.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
4 Mar 13
well it is always better to get the estimate from the company you will be dealing with, than to rely on other people's cost for usage.
@911Ricki (13588)
• Canada
4 Mar 13
I've asked a few people my cousin on propane pays $25 a month for a mobile home, I will call them this week and ask them. But I highly doubt it will be over $100. The gas company came the other day to do something to the meter, and I asked them they said no more than $50 unless you live in sauna. There are a few local propane companies which I most likely go with a small company locslly.
@911Ricki (13588)
• Canada
3 Mar 13
My parents pay $80 to heat an entire house in winter. But I guess it depends on what type you have as well. My Grandma pays $15 a month to heat her house. I think both are on gas, whereas most mobile homes are propane which does cost more. My friend has a mobile home and pays $60 in heat a month, and has it on 24 hours a day 7 days a week in winter (as she doesn't have the right insulation).
I was going to call the hydro and ask the going rate in the town I was looking at, also internet. I think there are about 6 propane company I could go with, 1 gas company so I may ask them all.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
3 Mar 13
I think you better refigure your budget. We get our gas, trash, recycling and water all on one bill. Ours runs over $200 a month. The the most of it is gas and we don't run our heat except at night and periodically in the day if we are cold. You are way north of me. I bet even if you don't use much it still will be near or over $150 a month. We have a big house. That may be a factor too. But I think you need to aim high and then be pleased if its less than you thought.
@911Ricki (13588)
• Canada
4 Mar 13
We don't pay for trash or recycling, unless it's over the 1 or 2 bags (depending on the township), if I am in the park it's unlimited (free). Water is included in the land lease if in the park (so part of the $380 a month this is septic as well, ploing and maintance of the roads, and use of the park pool, rec center, and hot tub). If I had my own lot it would be a well, so free each month, but the maintance every so many years of checking it and digging it which would be about $6,000 or more starting).
Heat, I don't see how people are paying this ridiculous amount, my parents bill every month is $70 for a full 3 storey house (I am actually sweating right now, and went outside). My grandma pays some ridiculous low amount. I know gas is cheapier than propane, which most mobile homes is propane. But my friend runs hers and pays $60 - $90 a month.
@marguicha (215405)
• Chile
3 Mar 13
I made a budget chart on exel a lot time ago and Iuse it once in a while for a couple of months to write down everything (and I mean everything) in separate items so that I understand in what I spend my money. I spend more money in water in summer and more money in heat in winter. I prefer to be a little bit overboard with my estimates and then discover that I have some money saved.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Mar 13
I really don't think that you are over estimating at all. See what a lot of people don't take the time to think about is the fact that there are going to be times that you don't use as much and there are other times that you will use more. In addition to that, you aren't always paying just for what you use, in the case of water you are also paying a meter fee every month that is actually a large portion of your bill if you don't use a lot.
Now I actually think that your heat could be something that is estimated quite low depending on the temperatures during a given year.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
3 Mar 13
Make a budget for everything and use (or save) that money each month. No matter if you need it or not. Write down what you did not need or what is left over. This saving you can use in times of need for what it is mend to be or for something else. Since most money we spend to bills we did not write down in your budget at all! Check each month or week what you did spend and do not spend if you don't need to.
@911Ricki (13588)
• Canada
3 Mar 13
I've been cutting back as is right now, I have my cellphone (which is landline as well, and cellphone seeing as I would use my cellphone more in emergencies while driving). Cut back on groceries, which cut it in half. I don't eat out to begin with about once a month, I try to go for sushi (that;s my get out, and do something). I do 1 activity scrapbooking. I buy mysel 1 thing as a treat, this month was tickets to the all things pet show.
I have been ordering the brats food in bulk instead of the little bags, my boss and I sat down and figured it out one night, in the end it would last longer if I paid the $18.99 for the large bag than the smaller bag (you get more for your money). I have been growing my own veggies (lettuce mainly), so I am hoping this will eventually save more money.
I am trying to find a way to save money on the things I do spend money on. My bills are paid up to date, but I was looking for my VISA, and it's gas, groceries, pet store, and medication is the only places I spend from.
I really don't over spend on things which is sad LOL. When I move out I will have house insurance to pay for, yearly land taxes, repairs for the place ontop of what I pay for now.
