Could you live on this Monthly budget?

[Póg mo 1,749]

$20 a month on health insurance? Two jobs? Only a $150 monthly car payment, and apparently the car doesn't even need gas. The amount allocated for heating and electric seems about about right, but of course I don't see anything budgeted for water and trash collection, which for us comes to about $45 a month. Also, this budget doesn't seem to take into account that somebody might be forced to take time due to illness or the the like, so I rather doubt that saving a $100 each month cover it. Good luck ever saving to go back school either and with two jobs, it seems a pretty tall order to expect somebody to have energy or even the time to do an online course. If somebody is working eighty plus hours a month, he/she probably won't have time for the internet or even making calls, so I guess they can save money by cutting both of those.

http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/mcdonalds/budget/budget2.php

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Nope.

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Not possible, my mortgage is already more than $600 per month.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

We make two mortgage payments a month so we can pay it off in 15 years rather than 30. That's $1400 right there.

Edited September 4, 2013 by Penny Lane

[Jacque67 7,328]

I loathe such articles about personal financing. They are so unrealistic. To think someone got paid to make this budget up! Aaagh!

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

$20 a month on health insurance? Two jobs? Only a $150 monthly car payment, and apparently the car doesn't even need gas. The amount allocated for heating and electric seems about about right, but of course I don't see anything budgeted for water and trash collection, which for us comes to about $45 a month. Also, this budget doesn't seem to take into account that somebody might be forced to take time due to illness or the the like, so I rather doubt that saving a $100 each month cover it. Good luck ever saving to go back school either and with two jobs, it seems a pretty tall order to expect somebody to have energy or even the time to do an online course. If somebody is working eighty plus hours a month, he/she probably won't have time for the internet or even making calls, so I guess they can save money by cutting both of those.

http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/mcdonalds/budget/budget2.php

Off topic but there is a great budget and money management software tool called Mint.com

I did a lot of research . Free and to me it is better than quicken

[khwaidee1 196]

Some jobs were never meant to be "careers" that would that would allow you to raise a family, pay all necessary expenses etc. Some jobs are meant to bridge the gap and teach one work ethics. When I was in college I bagged groceries at a supermarket and bussed tables in a restaurant. Both were full time, 5 days a week and all my classes were on Tuesday/Thursday. It was tough but allowed me to support myself while finished my degrees.

[Teddy B 17,252]

If the year was 1953, possibly.

[Operator 1,927]

$20 a month on health insurance? Two jobs? Only a $150 monthly car payment, and apparently the car doesn't even need gas. The amount allocated for heating and electric seems about about right, but of course I don't see anything budgeted for water and trash collection, which for us comes to about $45 a month. Also, this budget doesn't seem to take into account that somebody might be forced to take time due to illness or the the like, so I rather doubt that saving a $100 each month cover it. Good luck ever saving to go back school either and with two jobs, it seems a pretty tall order to expect somebody to have energy or even the time to do an online course. If somebody is working eighty plus hours a month, he/she probably won't have time for the internet or even making calls, so I guess they can save money by cutting both of those.

http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/mcdonalds/budget/budget2.php

You meant 80 hours a week, right?

[Póg mo 1,749]

You meant 80 hours a week, right?

Yes!

[Harsh_77 718]

In 2011 MacD paid $8.75 million to their CEO but thats same with lot of organization.

Ppl in managment are not willing to let the profit flow to the employees of the company but rather keep it within in the executive managment.

[lostinblue 1,989]

You can make this work. but not the way it is shown. I would say net income would be after health insurance is taken out I have a sister making 14/hr in a store. Take home is around 1100 with insurance taken out.. I have a co worker that rents a room for 300/month and pays 1/2 on some utilities. Another person cannot drive. He still works. makes it to work every day. Yes it is a hassle. Rides a bike 6 miles to work in the summer. Often pays a co-worker to get him to work in the winter.Sometimes a county bus. But he ends up an hour early. At times he has to skip overtime to do this. Cable.....I have never had cable. It is a waste land for the mind. The internet is fine. You almost need one to get a job today ..however you can go to the and use computers for free or get free wi fi. . I was brought up poor and I know I could make it work. Then you go to SE asia (china ) and see how the poor people live. and thrive. You can find many Ideas from them. They can buy the cheapest food and make a good meal . If you are real poor you don't even drink tea... just hot water. My parents and grand parents went through the depression. THEY knew what poor was. I had a Chinese girlfriend who moved to Toronto years ago. . She rented a room with kitchen use. Took the public transportation to work. Worked 2 jobs one doing inventory for stores. often got out of work at 1-2 am . She would wait maybe until 3 am in 10 below temps for the bus that would make a swing by once an hour..Wait on tables for a banquet hall The left over food they would eat and at times take home. When she did get a car she would drive 5 other co-workers to do inventory work. They would pay her some money.. As I said It is doable if You know how to survive. In her case she endured the harsh end of the cultural revolution in china. She and her brother survived on their own at age 7 and 12 for months at a time.. Raising rabbits and catching fish in the river. While the government took both parents away to the camps.

Toronto was a walk in the park for her.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

McDonalds was my first job when I was 15 or 16. A great learning experience, and I worked with plenty of people who were there for 5, 10, 15 years ... and none of them ever planned to be.

[khwaidee1 196]

Maybe these jobs weren't ever intended as careers, but the reality is millions people in the United States have few other options open to them. You bused tables, and bagged groceries while attending classes at university. Big deal! It is very easy to put your head down and force yourself to put in long hours when you know that these things are only temporary, lots of kids aren't lucky and if dicks like your good self could see your nose you might actually understand why not everybody is able to do what you did.

Why do some folks seem to consider empathy for others, such a dirty word?

You misunderstood. I have empathy but, if you didn't finish high school or came to the U.S. with no skills and decide to have a family with 3 or 4 children, is that really wise? There are many, many people that worked at McDonalds as teens and young adults and went on to do other jobs, even own a McDonalds. Is it the bussiness' responsibility, or society for that matter, for my poor decision making? Success is only what you make of it and if you insist that it is someone else's fault and they should take care of you as well, you'll probably get what you deserve.

And, why can't other people work hard, advance themselves, make a better life? I think that most immigrants come to the U.S. to better their position in life and most do very well. And touche on the name calling, why have an intelligent debate when you can make it personal.

[JohnR! 5,495]

That budget is realistic and feasible for a third grader, provided the parents foot the bill for school supplies.

If the year was 1953, possibly.

+10!!!!!!!!

Edited September 4, 2013 by Gegel