Comments on 2009 Budget ReviewTypePad2010-01-19T19:01:12ZNAhttps://www.freemoneyfinance.com/tag:typepad.com,2003:https://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2010/02/2009-budget-review/comments/atom.xml/FMF commented on '2009 Budget Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e2012877619fb6970c2010-02-04T13:39:28Z2010-02-04T13:39:28ZFMFhttp://www.freemoneyfinance.comNick -- I was 34.<p>Nick --</p>
<p>I was 34.</p>Nick commented on '2009 Budget Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e20120a85f5def970b2010-02-04T13:28:03Z2010-02-04T13:28:03ZNickI see, thanks for clearing that one up. I don't have my budget on me at the moment but I...<p>I see, thanks for clearing that one up. I don't have my budget on me at the moment but I will share my full 2009 breakdown hopefully this evening or tommorow</p>
<p>FMF --</p>
<p>If you don't mind me asking how old were you when you paid off your mortgage? I am 29 now and a well paid proffessional, my wife also works, but in the UK it seems buying a house that would be sufficient for me my wife and 2 children is a Looooooong way off, we would be looking at around £240,000 and a 30% deposit, phew</p>FMF commented on '2009 Budget Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e20120a85f317a970b2010-02-04T12:44:38Z2010-02-04T12:44:38ZFMFhttp://www.freemoneyfinance.comNick -- We paid off our mortgage years ago.<p>Nick --</p>
<p>We paid off our mortgage years ago.</p>MikeS commented on '2009 Budget Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e2012877597761970c2010-02-03T14:00:28Z2010-02-03T14:00:28ZMikeSNick, my mortgage makes up about 18% of my gross. FMF's post made me curious as to what my percentages...<p>Nick, my mortgage makes up about 18% of my gross. FMF's post made me curious as to what my percentages were. My biggest is taxes at 23%, which includes my property taxes.</p>Nick commented on '2009 Budget Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e201287758dbb5970c2010-02-03T10:57:45Z2010-02-03T10:57:45ZNickSo you all own your houses out right then? No-one has mortgage and no-one rents?<p>So you all own your houses out right then? No-one has mortgage and no-one rents?</p>Mike Hunt commented on '2009 Budget Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e20128774abfcc970c2010-02-02T15:32:16Z2010-02-02T15:32:16ZMike Hunthttp://www.foolhardy.net@Mark B, it's true, why is it so funny? BTW, I read your response to my wife and she said...<p>@Mark B, it's true, why is it so funny? BTW, I read your response to my wife and she said "ok, make it 5% then"!</p>
<p>-Mike</p>Nick commented on '2009 Budget Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e20120a848928e970b2010-02-02T14:26:06Z2010-02-02T14:26:06ZNickAnd isn't it more useful to list expenditure as a percentage of disposable income i.e. Net annual wages The reason...<p>And isn't it more useful to list expenditure as a percentage of disposable income i.e. Net annual wages</p>
<p>The reason I bring up rent is because rent makes up 30% of my (gross) annual wage, and that's not being extravagant, its just expensive to rent where I live (and I have to live there because of work) and buying a home is out of the question given the deposit requirements on first time buyers in the current climate</p>Nick commented on '2009 Budget Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e20128774a6825970c2010-02-02T14:19:14Z2010-02-02T14:19:14ZNickWhat about Mortgages/rent no-one seems to be mentioning that. In the UK we all either pay a mortgage or rent?!<p>What about Mortgages/rent no-one seems to be mentioning that. In the UK we all either pay a mortgage or rent?!</p>Mark B. commented on '2009 Budget Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e20120a8487fdf970b2010-02-02T14:07:24Z2010-02-02T14:07:24ZMark B.@Mike Hunt - LOL - Allowance for Wife - LOL<p>@Mike Hunt - </p>
<p>LOL - Allowance for Wife - LOL</p>Mike Hunt commented on '2009 Budget Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e20120a8474e09970b2010-02-02T07:37:25Z2010-02-02T07:37:25ZMike Hunthttp://www.foolhardy.netMy 2009 breakdown is as follows: Savings: 49% of gross Taxes: 29% of gross Charity: 10% of gross Allowance for...<p>My 2009 breakdown is as follows:</p>
<p>Savings: 49% of gross<br />
Taxes: 29% of gross<br />
Charity: 10% of gross<br />
Allowance for the wife: 4.4% of gross<br />
Food: 2.5% of gross<br />
Housing related expenses: 2% of gross<br />
Fun money: 3% of gross</p>
<p>-Mike<br />
</p>Mike Hunt commented on '2009 Budget Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e20120a8474a04970b2010-02-02T07:32:32Z2010-02-02T07:32:32ZMike Hunthttp://www.foolhardy.net@Old Limey, What does Coast to Coast mean in China? You mean Qingdao to Guangzhou or what? Or you mean...<p>@Old Limey,</p>
<p>What does Coast to Coast mean in China? You mean Qingdao to Guangzhou or what? Or you mean West China to Coastal China.</p>
<p>-Mike</p>Mark B. commented on '2009 Budget Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e20120a83c5b83970b2010-02-01T17:57:44Z2010-02-01T17:57:44ZMark B.@FMF, The greatest thing about this is your giving. You are much more generous than most, and many people certainly...<p>@FMF,</p>
<p>The greatest thing about this is your giving. You are much more generous than most, and many people certainly benefit from that. Thanks for you contributions to society. Keep it up. </p>D commented on '2009 Budget Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e20120a83ba837970b2010-02-01T15:34:56Z2010-02-01T15:34:56ZD@Old Limey, Mark: I like the way the both of you think - nothing beats experiencing it first hand! Three...<p>@Old Limey, Mark:</p>
<p>I like the way the both of you think - nothing beats experiencing it first hand! Three years ago my parents took our whole family (all 8 of us) to Turks and Caicos for a week. We stayed on a private beach away from all the touristy stuff and had the best times of our lives. My nephews are still talking about it today; "Remember when we were at CurksN'Cacas..." (they're still learning to say it correctly). In any event traveling has become a big part of our budget!</p>Old Limey commented on '2009 Budget Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e20120a83b9205970b2010-02-01T15:16:17Z2010-02-01T15:16:17ZOld Limey@Mark I'm with you about vacations. Geography was hard to remember and never very interesting at school but travel brings...<p>@Mark<br />
I'm with you about vacations.<br />
Geography was hard to remember and never very interesting at school but travel brings it alive.<br />
I could write a book about our travel experiences, many of which are unforgettable.<br />
We visited Bali 5 times and made many good Hindu friends there, attended a variety of their religious ceremonies and grew to love their ethnic music and dancing.<br />
I visited Nepal three times, once with my wife, and likewise made lots of Buddhist friends there, especially the Sherpas that helped us over high passes and to the top of several mountains.<br />
In Indonesia we hired a Moslem driver for a week and drove all over Java, he took great care of us and introduced us to the culture.<br />
In the Amazon we travelled up a tributary by canoe and stayed in the village of a tribe of Machinguenga Indians. In Thailand we hiked through the areas where the hill tribes lived and met many of the ethnic minorities that have settled there. In Africa we visited Masai and Samburu villages. In China we travelled from coast to coast by train, climbed the Sacred Peaks, visited many temples and also the birthplace of Confucious. In America's wonderful southwest we have visited many indian reservations and read about the wisdom of some of their great chiefs. Visiting Russia was another great experience, especially after spending my whole career helping to produce nuclear missiles whose sole purpose was to blow them to smithereens.<br />
The travel company we use these days emphasizes 'home hosted visits' and we have had wonderful times breaking bread with families in many countries.<br />
Travel doesn't just teach you about geography and other cultures but above all it broadens your outlook on religion, especially for someone that was raised in England where there is a state religion and you are brainwashed from birth into becoming a protestant. After almost six decades of travel I have grown to appreciate the inate goodness in all religions but personally we are now confirmed agnostics.</p>Mark commented on '2009 Budget Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e20128773ea5b5970c2010-02-01T14:29:02Z2010-02-01T14:29:02ZMarkWe also track our spending each year. Our biggest category is taxes - like yours between 35 and 40% of...<p>We also track our spending each year. Our biggest category is taxes - like yours between 35 and 40% of our total. And similar to you, I track depreciation on our cars (with over 100,000 miles on them) using KBB.com.</p>
<p>We often buy higher-end items (e.g. TV, furniture), but have also focused on keeping our recurring costs low (no cable TV, no fixed-line phone, $10 per month cellphone plan, minimal services (no lawn-care, housekeepers, termite, etc.)), and could live on less than 50% of our income. </p>
<p>Our major difference from your perecentages is that our second category for several years has been vacation. We have chosen to go to many different parts of the world, as well within the USA. We have learned so much about other places and people, and in fact when we reviedw our spending each year, we have sometimes joked that any year in which vacation is not near the top of the list will be a "bad" year. We made a very conscious decision to see and understand (and ensure that our children see and understand) other cultures - and also just to enjoy going to the beach or riding a jet-ski!</p>
<p>A tip to motivate NOT buying a new car: Track all auto expenses INCLUDING depreciation and insurance and that $1000 transmission job on the old heap will feel like a bargain. Every time I pay a mechanic to keep my car running I feel good. Not that I enjoy handing over my cash, but because I think of the months of savings I have just accomplished by not having to buy another vehicle.</p>KT commented on '2009 Budget Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e20128773e5fb6970c2010-02-01T13:29:44Z2010-02-01T13:29:44ZKTthanks for sharing this. You're a great inspiration! I am learning so much!<p>thanks for sharing this. You're a great inspiration! I am learning so much!</p>Mike commented on '2009 Budget Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e20120a83aec3e970b2010-02-01T12:56:33Z2010-02-01T12:56:33ZMikeYou are pulling in a LOT of dough...<p>You are pulling in a LOT of dough...</p>