About to move out... How much does it cost to live ,again???

[HappiMommi]

Hey Ladies!!!
Well I'm a Single Mom by choice, mainly because I choose to depend on on man... With that being said.
After a rough pregnancy I quit my old job and moved back in with mom... Well time to move out again...
Soooo.. I calcualted it and after an of my expenses I will have about $400 left...
This is including rent,car, utilites, food ect.
Is that ok?

And I have money saved this is just how much my check would be left

[cycle]

I think that is great - if you were realistic with your expenses. Its hard sometimes (I'm guilty) to be completely honest with your expenses.

Good Luck to you!

[HappiMommi]

*sigh no one cares...

[HappiMommi]

Originally Posted by cycle

I think that is great - if you were realistic with your expenses. Its hard sometimes (I'm guilty) to be completely honest with your expenses.

Good Luck to you!

Really... Thank you so much... I'm kind of afraid to leave the nest... Soooo... I mean its a risk in everything but I think this is worth it... Most people struggle while in school, especially when they have children...

[TirzhaZ]

I care!! I do, I do! I think $400 is plenty if it's what is left after everything including groceries. A friend of mine is pregnant and asked me how much expenses go up after having a baby and I just told her that she will have more bills as far as health insurance and baby's needs, but she also won't be going out nearly as often, so it all evens out. I know plenty of people that skimp by barely paying their bills with their paychecks, so good for you for having $400 leftover! I think you can do it...and the feeling of independence may be worth having to penny pinch every now and then so you can splurge later on your LO and yourself. Congrats!!!!

[rubelin]

wow, $400 left? I am currently $1500 short And I'm not leaving my nest, DH just flew the coop :P

[Metta&Karuna]

I care, too!

My question for you is, does your budget adequately include things that are not paid out monthly but either irregularly or annually? If so, and your $400 is over and above that stuff, too, then it seems to me you're in great shape. That will be a nice cushion for you if something unexpected comes up.

[incorrigible]

.

[Oceanjones]

I care too!

$400 sounds great! That's almost as much as I have just to live on every month! When you're working hard to make sure it works too you find that you can make those pennies squeal for stretching them so far

Sounds like you're in good shape!

[HappiMommi]

Really
*sigh*
I feel so much better now... I officially applied for the apartment today... So hopefully I will be in there by next Friday!!!
I am over due for some independence and privacy!

[jillibug]

Good for you!! That would be more than enough for me and DD. I get excited when I have any $ left after paying bills.

Best wishes and enjoy!!
adria

[singin'intherain]

congrats!:

[3_opihi]

400 is awesome! That's about the amount I have left over to put into savings every month after I pay for everything. I say, if you've got the cushion, save it. I've been stashing away and it feels so good to have my OWN money. And I have three kids - so if you've got one you should be a-ok.


You go girl!

[<~*MamaRose*~>]

As everyone else stated $400 after EVERYTHING is paid is FANTASTIC!!!!!!

[blissful_maia]

I think that's wonderful, so long as you weren't forgetting anything in your expenses! Sheesh, I don't have $400/month left at the best of times.

[meandmine]

Ok, I am gonna be a stickler here ... just make sure you have thought of ALL of the following: health insurance premium, life insurance premium (whose gonna care for the baby if you get hit by a bus), car maintenance and insurance (not just gas), medical not covered by insurance (dentist, for example), clothes for you and baby, hair cuts, drug store items, gifts to others (birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, house warming, you name it) ...

Sorry, but I have been working on my budget and ooo la la do these things add up!!!

M

[ebony]

Originally Posted by meandmine

Ok, I am gonna be a stickler here ... just make sure you have thought of ALL of the following: health insurance premium, life insurance premium (whose gonna care for the baby if you get hit by a bus), car maintenance and insurance (not just gas), medical not covered by insurance (dentist, for example), clothes for you and baby, hair cuts, drug store items, gifts to others (birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, house warming, you name it) ...

Sorry, but I have been working on my budget and ooo la la do these things add up!!!

M

I agree.

I have been absolutely SHOCKED by the expenses that pop up with my son and me.: But, my son is 10 and the OP has a new babe so we don't have the same issues (e.g., cost of camp and after-school programs, summer school programs, extra-curricular activities, composite dental fillings, etc).

So, $400 is a good cushion to have. I see that you are in Pasadena and I'm not sure what it's like to live there, but it's cheaper than NYC and I can tell you, no matter what, $400 would not be enough here. Even the cost of food increases in NYC on, what seems like, a weekly basis. It's outrageous here.

Congrats on moving out! There's nothing like having your own place