Reply #12: Between my wife and myself, we make about $30k [View All]

She makes $12/hr ($25k/yr) as a Pharmacy Technician. I estimate that I will make about $5k this year working 6 days a week at my small business. Last year, the economy was real bad and the biz lost about $10k, the preceeding 2 years we just about broke even.

Anyway, we're both very hard working people. I really can't imagine working many more hours than we already do.

Our budget breaks down to this..

Monthly income after taxes: $1750 (if we're lucky)

Rent: $ 850
Heat: $ 150 (averaged over 1 year)
Electric: $ 150
Phone + DSL: $ 80
Cable: $ 50
Food: $ 400 (minimum)
Car Insurance $ 60
Gas for car: $ 100
ok.. beer: $ 100
-----------
$1940
As the article says.. "the math is not working out"

We have been surviving the past year by borrowing several hundred dollars from my Mom each month. (who is very suportive and encourages me to stick with my business)

Basically we have constantly felt like we are slowly drowning over the past few years as the landlords, oil companies, and utilities continue to squeeze, squeeze, squeeze.

Sorry if it sounds like whining to some people.