Personal budgeting

[CanOz]

Interesting SKC, thanks for the breakdown, very helpful.

We don't have a live in maid, but an Ayi that comes weekly and does about 20 hours per month, at 15 RMB per hour.

1200-2000 RMB per month per employee would be closer to standard for full time, no OT.

I drink about a case of wine per month, so 1000 RMB there.

We likely spend another 2000 per month on eating out and entertainment.

Utilities, iNet, etc. is likely around 1000 per month. with the AC running. More in summer than just heating in winter.

Groceries we would spend about 2000 on average. Imported food like dairy adds up here.

Our clothes budget is small here but goes a long ways.

Not sure where the other 5000 went, but i'm sure she knows.

I was spending 10000 RMB per month in Harbin easily by myself. So 12000 here with two of us is pretty good.

All of our fuel and car expense is paid for by her business, so not included.

10000 RMB is approx $1755.00

 

[prawn_86]

P.S. Australia whilst having a pretty high cost of living, cooking at home isn't overly expensive on a relative basis imo.

Having been hee in the States for 4 months the cost of food here is fairly comparable but here you get a bit more upmarket brands for the same price as as EXCEPT for meat. Here you pay per lb what we used to pay per kg in Aus, so 2 - 3x the price. It's driving us mad not being able to get a nice, reasonably priced steak

 

[CanOz]

Having been hee in the States for 4 months the cost of food here is fairly comparable but here you get a bit more upmarket brands for the same price as as EXCEPT for meat. Here you pay per lb what we used to pay per kg in Aus, so 2 - 3x the price. It's driving us mad not being able to get a nice, reasonably priced steak

There is nothing like Aussie beef. We just went thirds on a big piece of rib-eye. Not cheap either but at least its worth the price. If not for that i would not get a good steak unless i went into Shanghai and bought a piece of Aussie Rib-eye at a restaurant and paid like $20 per steak rather than $10 for raw...

 

[skc]

Having been hee in the States for 4 months the cost of food here is fairly comparable but here you get a bit more upmarket brands for the same price as as EXCEPT for meat. Here you pay per lb what we used to pay per kg in Aus, so 2 - 3x the price. It's driving us mad not being able to get a nice, reasonably priced steak

There is nothing like Aussie beef. We just went thirds on a big piece of rib-eye. Not cheap either but at least its worth the price. If not for that i would not get a good steak unless i went into Shanghai and bought a piece of Aussie Rib-eye at a restaurant and paid like $20 per steak rather than $10 for raw...

Agree. I just travelled in Asia and saw quite a few restaurants marketing their food as using Aussie beef. Some of them are pretty low-end restaurants... and with track records of some of the Chinese merchants it wouldn't surprise me at all if some of them were not geniune. Fake soy source, fake eggs, fake lion at a zoo...

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell/2013/08/16/dog-poses-as-lion-in-china-zoo-blame-a-fake-economy/

 

[McLovin]

Having been hee in the States for 4 months the cost of food here is fairly comparable but here you get a bit more upmarket brands for the same price as as EXCEPT for meat. Here you pay per lb what we used to pay per kg in Aus, so 2 - 3x the price. It's driving us mad not being able to get a nice, reasonably priced steak

I never really liked steak in America, it's too fatty and grain-fed has never been my cup of tea. I've actually got a bloke now who sources all my steaks straight from the farm (he gets the steaks for a fair few hatted restaurants too). Have to buy in bulk but there's a group of us and we just split the order up. Can't beat a good steak, especially with the warmer weather coming. I'm going to hit him up for a goat shoulder that McLovin will slow cook over several thousand beers.

The problem in Australia is that most of the good meat goes to Asia, so you need a good butcher if you want to get quality.

 

[Ferret]

Hi Canoz,

My situation has some similarities to yours. I returned to Sydney at the beginning of the year after 15 years as an expat (including 8 in Shanghai). I recently did a home budget for this year because I want to know where my money goes and get an idea of what my expenses might be in retirement, which isn't far away.

The budget's pasted below. Its for my wife and I and two kids at home going to uni. It doesn't include an allowance paid to the kids but catches just about everything else. Public transport for my work is paid out of the cash item.

 

[prawn_86]

I'm going to hit him up for a goat shoulder that McLovin will slow cook over several thousand beers.

The problem in Australia is that most of the good meat goes to Asia, so you need a good butcher if you want to get quality.

My specialty is slow roast lamb shoulder, I should try it with goat

I'm not massive on US steak either, I much prefer grass fed, but most cows in Aus are also grain finished, they just don't advertise it as much.

I have no idea where the good steaks here go. A standard rib eye or T-bone here costs like $30-40 per kilo but you can get a good meal for $20-30 in a nice restaurant, doesn't really make sense

 

[Judd]

Fascinating how each individual or family approach the matter of budgeting. One size does not fit all.

While it is not budgeting per se, I use the “Savings Goal” function of a readily available accounting package which has the effect, for me at least, of hiding committed funds from my day-to-day requirements. For example, setting up “Investment funds” or “Contingency funds” with ridiculous end dates and amounts to avoid any annoying alerts. I then make regular contributions to these notional funds and withdrawals as required.

Probably a little bit of work involved initially but once set up I don't find it onerous and does allow me a good grasp of the money I do have available for my spending purposes. However, it does require some discipline.

 

[McLovin]

My specialty is slow roast lamb shoulder, I should try it with goat

Goat is so underrated. It's sweeter than lamb, and has less fat so slow cooks very well. Try and avoid wild goat, it's what everyone thinks they want but it's mostly cr@p.

I'm not massive on US steak either, I much prefer grass fed, but most cows in Aus are also grain finished, they just don't advertise it as much.

I don't mind if the steak is grain finished. But Americans tend to go pretty heavy on the grain and sacrifice flavour for fat.

I have no idea where the good steaks here go. A standard rib eye or T-bone here costs like $30-40 per kilo but you can get a good meal for $20-30 in a nice restaurant, doesn't really make sense

$40 for T-bone is outrageous.

Sorry for hijacking this thread.

 

[skc]

Hi Canoz,

My situation has some similarities to yours. I returned to Sydney at the beginning of the year after 15 years as an expat (including 8 in Shanghai). I recently did a home budget for this year because I want to know where my money goes and get an idea of what my expenses might be in retirement, which isn't far away.

The budget's pasted below. Its for my wife and I and two kids at home going to uni. It doesn't include an allowance paid to the kids but catches just about everything else. Public transport for my work is paid out of the cash item.

That's as detailed as I've seen anyone recording their spending... (btw what you've shown is not a budget, but a record).

It's interesting to see that some of the largest items are pretty discretionary... like alcohol and travel/holiday. I also didn't know keeping a dog is so expensive.

And $900 in Nespresso?! I love how you have a separate line item for your addiction!

 

[VSntchr]

I never really liked steak in America, it's too fatty and grain-fed has never been my cup of tea. I've actually got a bloke now who sources all my steaks straight from the farm (he gets the steaks for a fair few hatted restaurants too). Have to buy in bulk but there's a group of us and we just split the order up. Can't beat a good steak, especially with the warmer weather coming. I'm going to hit him up for a goat shoulder that McLovin will slow cook over several thousand beers.

The problem in Australia is that most of the good meat goes to Asia, so you need a good butcher if you want to get quality.

Yeah I'm with you on that. I rotate between buying a half cow or a whole lamb.
Purely grass-fed and finished. Reasonable price and the best tasting lamb ive ever had. Just need to give up the freezer space for it!!!
Im getting hungry..time for lunch

 

[Ferret]

I also didn't know keeping a dog is so expensive.

And $900 in Nespresso?! I love how you have a separate line item for your addiction!

Yes, my wife likes to spoil the dog! And the Nespresso is only for my wife and daughter. The coffee beans I use are captured under supermarket etc.

 

[CanOz]

Thanks for the meaty discussion guys...

Thanks Ferret for that expense record, a nice glimpse into Sydney spend.

Pretty conservative on the alcohol too, i admire your reserve.

 

[Julia]

Yes, my wife likes to spoil the dog!

Spending that much isn't necessarily spoiling the dog. If you buy top quality dog food specifically formulated for your breed of dog, instead of the crap that's available in supermarkets, that's around $800 p.a., plus some fresh meat would bring it up to around $1000. Comprehensive once-a-month treatment for heartworm, all intestinal worms, ticks, fleas etc is about $300 p.a., vet for annual vaccination and check up $200, and that's before the dog gets old and sick when you can whack on at least another $1000 p.a.

 

[skc]

Spending that much isn't necessarily spoiling the dog. If you buy top quality dog food specifically formulated for your breed of dog, instead of the crap that's available in supermarkets, that's around $800 p.a., plus some fresh meat would bring it up to around $1000. Comprehensive once-a-month treatment for heartworm, all intestinal worms, ticks, fleas etc is about $300 p.a., vet for annual vaccination and check up $200, and that's before the dog gets old and sick when you can whack on at least another $1000 p.a.

Getting really off topic now... but do you get pet insurance?

 

[Julia]

Getting really off topic now... but do you get pet insurance?

I've never thought about it but have just done a search and it would be around $500 p.a.

Might be worthwhile if you anticipate surgical needs, I suppose, but I wouldn't bother with it.

Happy to pay to look after my dog just as I'm happy to pay a registered breeder for selected temperament and true breed characteristics when first acquiring the puppy.

 

[CanOz]

My cats take some looking after as well. The vet here is about the same cost as back home too.

Now they're both on a diet its twice as much for food. Next stop is a teeth cleaning at over $100 each.

 

[Joules MM1]

My cats take some looking after as well. The vet here is about the same cost as back home too.

Now they're both on a diet its twice as much for food. Next stop is a teeth cleaning at over $100 each.

Can, this is your life

 

[CanOz]

lol...yeah i'm sure my cats idolize me Joules....if only for that fact that i look after them so well

 

[Julia]

Now they're both on a diet its twice as much for food. Next stop is a teeth cleaning at over $100 each.

You can do this yourself if you do it following each meal. Just use an ordinary toothbrush.
I don't know anything about cats but dogs actually quite like having their gums massaged and you can do this with the toothbrush to relax them, then simply extend the brush action over their teeth.

This stops the tartar building up and keeps your animal's teeth clean all the time. Don't, however, get sucked into buying fancy cat/dog toothpaste. Just the brush and some reassuring words is all you need.

If tartar is allowed to build up then at least for a dog, veterinary removal is very expensive, involving a general anaesthetic, which obviously you'd prefer your animal not to have any, quite apart from the cost.