Aussie dollars and sense: Unravelling the cost of living Legal Kitz 4mo Step 3: Lifestyle will Dictate Your Neighbourhood Kelley Skar 7y Your Home of the Future..(and load shedding) Stanford Payne 4y Are you ready for a New Beginning Ann Byrne 1y Five tips of local shifting for a hassle free movements to a new area in your city Ankush Nalatiya 7y Top 3 Reasons to Buy Greek Property Katerina Sirouni 6y Want Versus Need Benjamin Zaimovic 2y To move or not to move, that is the question.

Sallie Stone-Bearne 3y New Year Resolutions for Your Home Bob Beach 3w Cost of Living: Rapid City, SD vs. Colorado Springs, CO Christian Morrison 1y Show more Show less.

Sallie Stone-Bearne 3y New Year Resolutions for Your Home Bob Beach 3w Cost of Living: Rapid City, SD vs. Colorado Springs, CO Christian Morrison 1y Show more Show less.

Aussie dollars and sense: Unravelling the cost of living Legal Kitz 4mo. Legal Kitz 4mo.

Step 3: Lifestyle will Dictate Your Neighbourhood Kelley Skar 7y. Kelley Skar 7y.

Your Home of the Future..(and load shedding) Stanford Payne 4y. Stanford Payne 4y.

Are you ready for a New Beginning Ann Byrne 1y. Ann Byrne 1y.

Five tips of local shifting for a hassle free movements to a new area in your city Ankush Nalatiya 7y. Ankush Nalatiya 7y.

Top 3 Reasons to Buy Greek Property Katerina Sirouni 6y. Katerina Sirouni.

Known for its historic town squares, trees dripping with Spanish moss and well-preserved architecture, Savannah has become increasingly modernized in recent years. In February of 2022, the city opened the Enmarket Arena, a 9,500-seat stadium that hosts the Savannah Ghost Pirates, a mid-level professional hockey team, as well as concerts by major performers including Janet Jackson, Reba MacEntire and Luke Bryan (coming this fall).

The city is also ripe with potential job opportunities. In 2025, Hyundai Motors will open an auto plant and EV battery factory in nearby Bryan county.

And let’s not forget that the downtown area is a mere 18 miles from Tybee Island, a barrier island in the Atlantic Ocean that boasts 5 miles of public beaches. New restaurants in the city include Brochu’s Family Tradition, run by Michelin-star award winning chef Andrew Brochu, as well as Sea Wolf Tybee, a restaurant with fancy cocktails and many vegan options right by the ocean on Tybee Island.

average*. See some of the highest-paying savings accounts here.

Enjoy major sports teams such as the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Stars, as well as plenty of arts and culture. These include rich and varied museums ranging from the Nasher Sculpture Center showcasing contemporary art, to the Dallas Museum of Art, one of the ten largest art museums in the country.

The city continuously invests in new jobs and developments. Goldman Sachs recently announced that they will add 5,000 jobs at their new Dallas campus which is set to start construction later this year.

Best known for its barbecue, the city also has a thriving food scene, with restaurants including La Parisienne French Bistro, JoA Korean BBQ and Chama Gaúcha Brazilian Steakhouse raising the profile of international cuisine in the city. Average home value: $308,305Population: 1,288,457Cost of Living: 1% higher than the U.S.

Perhaps best known as the home of the Ivy League school Cornell University, Ithaca is surrounded by hiking trails including the Cascadilla Gorge Trail and the Ithaca Falls trail, both of which lead to one of the area’s many gorgeous waterfalls.

The thriving cultural scene in the city includes the Museum of the Earth, which explores our planet’s prehistoric past, as well as the State Theatre of Ithaca, which showcases performances by the Indigo Girls, among other talents. Notable restaurants in the area include Revelry Yards, a beer garden that recently opened off the Commons, and Moosewood, the newly renovated vegetarian staple that spawned a beloved cookbook.

average. See some of the highest-paying savings accounts here.

In fact, major celebrities including Brad Pitt, Jennifer Coolidge, Sandra Bullock and Nicholas Cage have all owned properties in the city, which is full of French and Spanish colonial architecture, as well as Creole townhouses marked by cast-iron balconies. Recently the city announced plans to develop 47 acres along the Mississippi River that will include hotels, residential units and retail spaces.

Sports fans can also catch an exciting New Orleans Saints game. The city is renowned for its food culture and wide range of cuisine, and recently welcomed new restaurants including Dakar NOLA, featuring Senegalese cuisine and Le Chat Noir, serving farm-to-table fine dining.

average. Much of the Western United States has become unaffordable to home buyers, who find themselves priced out of not only Los Angeles and San Francisco, but also inland cities including Salt Lake City and Boise.

The city straddles the Missouri River and offers plenty of access to the gorgeous vistas of the nearby Northern Great Plains and the Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The Big Belt Mountains of Montana are just a three-hour drive away.

You can spend your weekends hiking through the grasses of the Northern Great Plains towards the Crown Butte, a rock formation also witnessed by the Lewis & Clarke expedition 200 years ago. Skiers can enjoy access to local mountain resorts including Showdown Montana.

Average home value: $282,312Population: 60,403Cost of Living: 12.6% lower than U.S. average.

Census Bureau and Sperling’s Best Places, respectively.

It seems like everyone is itching to save money these days, so what better way to do so than to cut down on monthly food expenses. We all want to know how to save money on groceries, especially with families to feed.

That’s three eating adults instead of the normal two, so I really have the challenge of stretching meals and making our budget work.

You might ask, “is $300 a month enough for food. ” With pre-planning and small kids, the answer is YES.

1st week: The biggest shopping week for us. This is where I re-stock all of our meats, canned foods, eggs, bread, milk, juice, pantry staples, seasonings, fruits, vegetables, and other necessary items.

2nd week: This trip is usually a Walmart/Target trip and includes toiletries, snacks, paper towels, laundry items, cleaners, and anything else we need to maintain the household. I buy enough here to last the whole month.

3rd week: A light re-stocking of grocery items we have run out of, such as fruits, veggies, or specifics I need to cook with for the week. I spend about $40.

I spend around $40. Photo credit: USDAgov via VisualHunt.com / CC BY.

Yikes. It’s wonderful to treat yourself to the more expensive ways of living when you can afford it, but when you are on a tight family budget, you must pinch pennies and be a smart spender.

I buy all of our staple foods in bulk. When you do so, you save a pretty good amount rather than buying small amounts every week.

Note: The best places to print manufacturer’s coupons online are Coupons.com, Hopster, Red Plum, Coupon Network, and Smartsource. Do not be afraid to visit your local Food 4 Less, Dollar Tree, Save-A-Lot, and 99¢ stores, you would be surprised at what you can find.

I have seen multiple items at almost half of the price they would be at the grocery giants. It really makes a difference.

Many of us are stuck on brand-name items. Remove yourself and take a peek at what the store brand has to offer.

Some of my favorite store brands are Safeway brand, Market Pantry (Target), and Kroger brand (Kroger, Ralphs, Food 4 Less).

Try to stick to the items that are in season, they are much more plentiful so they cost less. For example, buying peaches in the winter is almost always a fail, which is totally against my ways to feed my family on a budget.

Stop Buying The Unnecessary: Selecting Snacks and Sweets – Snacks and sweets are wonderful to have in the pantry, but they are not always necessary. Be selective of what snacks you buy and how much you are really getting for what you pay.

This is one of the times that you should strategize, using the “Matching Coupons With Sales” and the “Store Brand Items” sections above. Plan for Left Overs, Left Overs, Left Overs.

It is much easier and cheaper to double your family dinner recipes and cook them once than to have a new meal with different ingredients every night. Breakfast and lunch are simple, but it is dinner that I have to plan out.

Note: Adding garlic bread or a side salad to a meal is a great, inexpensive way to stretch your meal and fill those tummies.

You can get $25 gift certificates to restaurants in your area for as low as $2. There are different promotions and codes available, GO HERE to see the latest.

The strategies I use to feed my family on a budget really make a difference in my household. How large is your family and how much do you spend monthly on groceries, eating out, toiletries, and household necessities.

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During our more than 10 years on the road, we’ve found some of the cheapest places to live in the world, while enjoying an amazing lifestyle.

Sometimes we spend a month at the destination, and sometimes we stay for 6 months. It all depends on how we’re feeling at the time.

Sometimes we’re housesitting or pet-sitting, or we just need to get caught up on work, so we rent an apartment. This post was updated in 2023 to reflect changes to the cheapest places to live abroad.

Through our own experience, we’ve found a lot of affordable places where you live on less while experiencing more. While our own personal budget is higher than $1,000 USD per month, we know it’s possible to live off of that, or less, in the places I’ll list in this article.

I’m listing countries in this article because, for the most part, you can live in any part of the country for the prices I’ve expressed, but I am going to focus on the main cities that I recommend living in each country. These are typically cities with a decent amount of amenities, a thriving expat community and plenty of good restaurants and places for remote work.

This article is for all of those digital nomads or retirees out there who are looking for the cheapest places to live, where their dollar can stretch a bit farther. It’s also for those people who aren’t digital nomads (but maybe aspire to be one day), who just want to spend longer in the places they visit, or for those who simply are interested in learning about where they could potentially move to that would be exotic, exciting and affordable.

Keep reading for my list of the 15 most affordable countries in 2023 to live in as an expat, based on my many years of experience. Indonesia is one of the most beautiful countries we’ve ever visited, and it makes for an excellent base in Asia.

I started this list with Indonesia because this post is all about the most affordable places to live and, well… there’s nowhere more affordable than Indonesia. The only places on this list that might rival Indonesia for the best value for money are Chiang Mai (Thailand), Greece and India.

The best island for quality of life in Indonesia is likely Bali. The prices here are a bit higher than many other places in the country, but there are far more amenities and plenty of expats around, which creates a market for the things that foreigners love.

If you’re looking for a more quiet and natural Balinese experience, then you may want to choose a place in the north or east ends of the island. Ubud is central Bali, but it’s similar to the south in that it’s extremely busy.

Here you’ll find endless cafes with blazing fast wi-fi, blogging conferences, co-working spaces, tons of beautiful villa options and lots of places to rent a motorbike ($50 / month). One downside to Bali, particularly the coastal towns on the southwest coast (like Canggu), is that during the off-season the tides bring in a disgusting amount of garbage that piles up on the sandy beaches.

These are issues that the local people of Bali are working hard to remedy, but they’re still not fixed so I recommend visiting/living in Canggu only during the high season (from May-September) when the beaches and water are clean. Interested in living in Canggu.

Thailand is the only other place we’ve ever rented a luxury private pool villa. We have lived in Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and a short period in Bangkok (on many different occasions).

Bangkok has plenty of beautiful apartments available as well, and of course, Chiang Mai (a place we’ve only visited, but never lived in) is currently the digital nomad mecca. We know from our friends’ experiences that it’s quite easy to find a nice 1-bedroom place in Chiang Mai for $200 / month or less including all bills.

The internet in Chiang Mai is blazing fast and there are probably more bloggers and web entrepreneurs here than anywhere else. Our favourite island to visit in Thailand was probably Koh Phangan.

But for actually living, I think that the best options are Koh Samui (if you want island life) or Chiang Mai and Bangkok (if you want city life). There are quite a few villas and more basic accommodations in Koh Samui.

Try to contact the owner outside of the platform to negotiate a price, just beware of Airbnb scams before sending any money. There are quite a few digital nomads and expats living in Bangkok and it’s probably one of our favorite cities in the world.

There are endless things to do in Bangkok, you’ll never be bored. Interested in living in Thailand.

You won’t find “Our Monthly Budget” or “Our Utilities” in the above list of prices because we’ve never actually lived in India. We’ve travelled the country for nearly 6 months in total, but we never had the urge to settle any temporary roots in this beautiful, chaotic and spiritual place.

India has always been one of our favourite travel destinations as it epitomizes everything we love about travel. The country puts together an addicting blend of culture, chaos, religion, history, architecture and cuisine and mixes it into a formula that’s as intoxicating as the sandalwood incense that always brings me right back to India whenever I smell it.

Here, everything is a bit more liberal, there’s less harassment and there’s a slower beach vibe. We have friends who have lived in Goa for years and they love it.

There are also quite a few accommodation options and India is definitely one of the cheapest places to live that’s included in this list. There are still dozens of nice apartments available for under $400 USD per month.

There are also some gorgeous luxury pool villas available for around $1500 / month. Want to read more about India travel.

And, check out this post from our friend Rachel who shares what a day in the life of an expat in Goa looks like. China is probably one of the most underrated backpacking destinations on Earth, but what about the fact that it’s also one of the cheapest places to live.

We also had friends who lived on the outskirts of Shanghai and loved it. There are some obvious downsides to living in China.

There were some days, even in Yangzhou, when we couldn’t see 10 feet in front of us because the smog was so bad. This problem is even worse in Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu.

For the most part though, travellers, teachers and expats focus their time on the east coast of China. This is where there are the largest cities and the most amenities.

There’s a lot of history here, a great vibe, friendly people and some of the best cuisine on the planet. We absolutely loved our time living in Yangzhou and we were able to live on far less than $1,000 per month (even as a couple).

You can usually have a filling meal for under $5 in a restaurant, while some delicious street food meals (like dumplings, cold noodles and stir fry) can sometimes be found for $2 or less. For teachers looking to live abroad and earn money, China is probably the best destination in the world for availability of work and quality of life.

Whether you are looking to live a more adventurous lifestyle, travel the country, experience the great outdoors, retire, save money, or just downsizing, living in an RV park full-time is an incredible option and a one-of-a-kind experience. Today, there are more than 1 million Americans living in their RVs for these reasons and many more.

There are countless benefits to living an alternative lifestyle in an RV park, but how much will it cost you per month. Chances are, you can actually save money.

Generally speaking, you can expect to pay between $500 and $1,200 per month to stay at an RV park, including the cost of utilities. The price will vary depending on the location, facilities, amenities available, and whether the park offers a discount for extended stays.

This includes water, sewer, garbage, cable, WiFi – plus full access to special park amenities such as a pool, hot tub, lodge, game room, TV loft, and outdoor gathering spaces. You would be hard-pressed to cover rent in most places in the U.S.

In fact, the median price of rent for a one-bedroom in Oregon is $992 (not including utilities), meaning you could save more than $300 per month on rent alone by living in an RV Resort like Silver Spur. Pro tip: Many RV parks offer additional discounts through AAA or Good Sam, so be sure to look into those as well.

One of the most obvious benefits of living in an RV full-time is the flexibility and opportunities for travel and adventure it offers. Imagine spending your summers hiking through waterfalls in Oregon and your winters, steps from the beach in Florida… with full-time RV living, the world is your oyster.

With such frequent change, it’s comforting to have a safe, constant home base to return to every night. That’s why compared to constant camping, hotel rooms, or “van life”, living in an RV is a more convenient, comfortable, roomy, and sustainable option in the long run.

First of all, a more simplistic and minimal way of life is shown to de-clutter the mind, reduce stress, and provide more time and energy to focus on what really matters. Furthermore, living in more natural environments with a greater connection to the outdoors can further benefit your mental health and well-being by encouraging you to be more active, focus on the present and discover inner peace.

Worried about a lack of community while living on the road. Many RV resorts, like Silver Spur, host regular community gatherings and fun events to help long-term visitors get to know the other campers and have a chance to socialize.

If you are serious about making the move to full-time RV living, here are a few tips to help you prepare: For more information and tips on monthly RV park living in the U.S., check out this helpful guide on our blog.

Perhaps most importantly, living in an RV will teach you to value experiences, relationships, and nature over material objects or possessions. You’ll make memories to last a lifetime and live your life to the very fullest.

If you choose to stay with us at Silver Spur RV Park & Resort in Oregon, you’ll experience the breathtaking natural beauty of Silver Falls, the small-town charm of Silverton, and the abundance of the Willamette Valley – all while staying in a convenient, comfortable and community-centric environment, complete with top-notch facilities and amenities.

Contact us today to reserve your monthly stay.

In 2022, the median home sales price surged to $479,500 before steadily dropping to $416,100 by mid-2023. While home prices are at historical highs, they vary widely depending on where you want to live.

We sorted through the data to find five affordable cities where you can buy a single-family house for under $300,000. If you’re looking for a place to buy the cheapest homes, your best bet is a city in the Midwest.

during the second quarter of 2023, according to NAR. The Midwest also scored highest on NAR’s Affordability Index, which measures whether a typical family earns enough income to qualify for a mortgage in that region.

metro areas that have a median sales price between $200,000 and $300,000, then looked through home listings and information about these spots to come up with a list of five family-friendly cities where you can find a home under $300K. The following cities have strong housing markets, desirable amenities and general affordability.

Median sales price. $257,600 Estimated mortgage payment.

106,095. According to NAR, the median sales price on single-family houses in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is $257,600.

Homes in this area have seen price gains for three years, which works in your favor when you’re ready to sell. Homes in the $200,000 to $300,000 price range in Green Bay typically come with three bedrooms and one or two bathrooms, with around 1,400 to 2,000 square feet or more.

Green Bay is strong in other areas as well. The unemployment rate and cost of living are both better than the national average—and there’s plenty to do in this town, even with a relatively small population of about 106,000.

According to Niche, a neighborhood ranking and review site, the public K-12 schools in Green Bay get an overall B rating. The crime in this area is a downside, though, as it receives a C rating from Niche.

Median sales price. $296,300 Estimated mortgage payment.

100,826. In New York’s capital, we found that 339 houses had sold in the $200,000 to $300,000 price range in the past six months.

Homes in this price range typically include three bedrooms and 1.5 to two bathrooms and measure an average 1,445 square feet. The listings on Realtor.com in this price range looked well-kept but could use some updates.

One of Albany’s strong points is its location. Residents can easily drive to Montreal, New York City and Boston within 3.5 hours, or quickly escape to the nearby Finger Lakes wine region and the Berkshires of Massachusetts.

The state capital has a lively downtown with plenty of entertainment and dining options—and while the cost of living is slightly above the national average, it’s more affordable than some of the neighboring cities like NYC. There are some highly rated schools in the Albany area, too, though the overall public school system received a C rating from Niche.

Median sales price. $236,600 Estimated mortgage payment.

267,927. The average sales price on single-family houses in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is $236,600.

Homes in the $200,000 to $300,000 price range in Fort Wayne typically come with four bedrooms and two bathrooms, with an average 2,008 square feet and lots of carpeting. Many of the listings on Realtor.com show huge yards and accessory dwellings.

Fort Wayne has a much lower cost of living than the rest of the nation, making it a great place to buy a home and put extra money toward savings. The city also boasts an art scene, plenty of entertainment options and long-term economic development projects aimed at revitalization.

Fort Wayne received a B or higher in all of them except crime and safety, which earned a C. The year-over-year unemployment rate has increased in Fort Wayne, although the labor market has been more resilient than the national average.

Median sales price. $235,100 Estimated mortgage payment.

127,385. Among the top states with the most new builds, Texas takes the No.

Abilene currently boasts 52 new-construction listings among single-family houses in the $200,000 to $300,000 price range. Houses in Abilene typically come with three or four bedrooms and at least two bathrooms, measuring around 1,695 square feet on average.

Some of Abilene’s best features include above-average schools, plenty of parks, and are a three- to four-hour drive to Dallas and Austin, respectively. The employment situation here needs work, according to Niche, but Abilene generally scores well in diversity, weather and commute lengths.

Median sales price. $225,900 Estimated mortgage payment.

302,898. Some of the best-known cities in the U.S.

You can buy an affordable single-family house in St. Louis, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Memphis in this price range.

Pittsburgh is the exception within this group. It’s consistently listed as one of the best places to live and to buy a home in the U.S., and it receives an overall Niche grade of A.

News & World Report. Pittsburgh is a hub of technology and education with thousands of acres in ample green space, three professional sports teams, and plenty of museums, events and restaurants.

The median sales price on single-family houses in Pittsburgh is $225,900. Many current home listings boast charming exteriors, renovated interiors, and extra backyard amenities such as decks and fish ponds.

Among properties that sold within the past six months in this price range, you’ll typically find houses with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an average square footage of 1,512. Plus, new construction is strong here, which could cause prices to moderate as inventory builds up.

Some—but not all—have modern updates and beautiful fixtures. And depending on the location, you might be able to snag a newly built property in this price range.

A tightening inventory nationwide has increased buyer competition and pushed prices higher, so it might be challenging to get your purchase offer accepted. One drawback to getting a home in this price range is that many properties lack modern updates.

Buying a move-in-ready home in this price range requires working with an experienced real estate agent. Before you get in touch with one, create a list of features you want in a home.

A real estate agent with experience in the area can show you new properties in your price range or even off-market home listings. If you find a property you like that could use some work, you might consider taking out a FHA 203(k) loan.

The advice for buying a home is generally the same no matter your price point. Here are some tips when you’re taking a step toward homeownership:

So if your household income is $100,000 a year, then you might set your housing budget at $2,333 per month—or up to $3,000 if you have no other debts. A home affordability calculator can help you estimate your price range.

When you approach a lender for a preapproval, they’ll perform a hard credit check and review your financial documents to gain a clear picture of your financial standing. This in.

We live in small town USA where the grocery choices are slim. We have a Publix and an Ingles, and when we first moved here I quickly learned the importance of shopping the sales at Publix.

Shopping the sales quickly became boring and felt restrictive, and if I did stray and plan a meal that wasn’t all BOGO, the cost was ridiculous. I tried Ibotta, an app that makes you money when you purchase specific items, but I still wasn’t convinced that I was getting the best bang for my grocery buck.

Athens is about 40 minutes from our house and has amazing choices for grocery shopping. We quickly fell in love with Trader Joe’s and started purchasing more and more there versus a traditional grocery store.

I first started shopping at Aldi when Jarrod and I were newlyweds. Neither of us had a full time job, I was in college, and we had a very minimal grocery budget.

I had a preconcieved perception that Aldi carried the bottom of the barrel, or unwanted, produce and other food goods. I was so wrong.

As the years went by, Aldi started carrying more organic products and has not only continually expanded their natural and organic brand, Simply Nature, but has removed all GMOs and 125 other questionable ingredients from all Simply Nature products.

Click HERE to see the Simply Nature line and learn more about Aldi’s promise to quality. The Huffington Post has a great article on 7 Reasons You Shouldn’t Shop at Aldi.

But seriously, if you haven’t been to Aldi, you need to give it a try. I promise you won’t regret it.

I didn’t move to Buenos Aires from China six years ago for the lower cost of living, but it’s part of why I’ve stayed here for so long. It’s possible to live here for the equivalent of $1,000, or 141,000 Argentine pesos, or less a month.

My situation is different from that of the locals because I’m from the United States and typically earn my money in US dollars and British pounds from freelance-writing work and teaching yoga online. If I were to pull money out of an ATM, change cash in an official exchange house, or use my US debit card, I would use the rate of $1 to about 140 pesos.

This method means I can use the Western Union exchange rate, one of several unofficial rates that have sprung up to help Argentines save in US dollars amid the country’s economic turbulence. I go to a branch location, wait in line, and take a stack of pesos home.

But because the unofficial rate changes to reflect inflation, I sometimes pay less for things in dollar amounts than I did the month before. For example, I was taking a private circus class for 2,000 pesos.

Since the class stayed the same price, I ended up paying less. in June I paid $8.70 for the class, and in July I paid $6.21.

In the last two weeks, I’ve spent the equivalent of $476 and exchanged money two more times when the Western Union rates were 275 and 279 pesos to the dollar. About 30% of that — 38,090 pesos — I used on eating out, which I did for nearly 40% of my meals.

I spent 4,420 pesos on toiletries and beauty products. My two other large expenses were 8,520 pesos on coffees and coffee beans and 26,800 pesos renting another apartment that I’ll start using later this month as an office space, which is about 40 minutes away by bus.

The year before I moved here, I was so stressed from work that I got shingles when I was writing a guide to the city’s restaurants even though I was only 26. An apartment rental in New York is, on average, $2,632 a month in Brooklyn.

My husband and I split costs, meaning my share for our one-bedroom apartment is only $128.57 a month. A big reason I moved here was to pursue circus arts, and a lot of my time and budget goes into training on aerial apparatuses.

Whereas in the US a one-hour, drop-in class at a circus school would cost me $30 to $40, here I’m paying a monthly rate of 6,500 pesos for classes of two to two-and-½ hours twice a week. I also take semi-private classes once or twice a week for 2,500 pesos per class, a fraction of the $90 this would cost me in the US.

My only other monthly expense is paying a cleaner who comes to our apartment every other week, my half of which costs about 3,675 pesos monthly.

It helps me avoid checking emails too much. I can still receive calls, and if I need to call or text someone, I connect to WiFi and use WhatsApp or FaceTime audio.

I spend a little on entertainment and miscellaneous things as well, but I mostly go to free or cheap events, like circus-variety shows — which are typically 400 to 700 pesos — or friends’ concerts. If there’s a higher-cost event, I can afford it, but most of what I want to do — attending food festivals, going to parties at cultural centers, visiting museums, and seeing movies — isn’t expensive.

It gives me the ability to decide how much I want to work and how I want to structure my day around my interests, including spending time with my husband and friends. That is what makes me really appreciate living here.

Would you live in a city where the water and sewer bill is $300 a month.

The city is facing an estimated $28 million bill to pay for a new wastewater treatment facility it is being forced to build. It has been asking for money from state and federal governments and saving since it found out in 2017, but it still only has about $4 million.

The average water and wastewater bill in Aumsville is $102 – before the $12 public safety fee, which is low compared to other cities in the Willamette Valley, according to a survey by the League of Oregon Cities. But in a city with 27% of people living under the poverty level and 25% barely above it, tripling that bill will have a huge impact.

Aumsville built a tertiary wastewater treatment facility to handle sewage in 1960 on the northern edge of the city. All wastewater in the city is sent to 16 acres of manmade ponds.

When the water arrives, non-biodegradable solids are filtered out. And there are lots of unusual ones.

“Just anything that you can think of people would flush,” Aumsville city administrator Ron Harding said. From there, it is pumped into the first of four ponds, where oxygen is introduced and bugs eat the waste in the wastewater.

Then chlorine is added and the treated wastewater is pumped out. “It’s a very natural system,” Ceja said.

In the winter, the water is discharged into Beaver Creek. For more than 50 years, that system was acceptable.

The city’s system no longer meets federal standards for the amount of ammonia released into the environment. That means the city is required to build a wastewater treatment facility that would get rid of the ammonia.

Our system was fine with the previous standards. The standard changed,” Ceja said.

The initial estimate was $12 million. But that price has gone up.

Aumsville could be fined now for not being in compliance, Harding said, but the DEQ has deferred any fines. “I think we have to be fully operational by 2027,” Harding said.

If we’re in the middle of construction when that dates hit, I’m sure that they’d give us an extension. We’re going to have to show progress.”.

Operating the plant will cost an estimated $50 more per resident per month. When Aumsville’s city council raised water bills by $12 a month to fund 24/7 police services in 2018, it resulted in an uproar by residents and led to the recall of nearly half the council.

Ceja and the six city councilors have been going house to house throughout the city to tell people what could happen. Ceja said she doesn’t want to scare residents about the possible large monthly increase, but she wants to inform them.

Harding said the city has about $4.3 million saved so far. The city received $984,000 through the American Rescue Plan Act and Marion County gave it another $1 million in ARPA funds.

And the city has saved about $1.2 million from development fees charged when new homes are built. Now they’re asking for help.

She said State Rep. Ed Diehl and State Sen.

And the city is applying for every grant it can. “But the reality is we’ve got to build the facility,” Harding said.

It’s a mandate. And so then it’s about engaging your community and letting them know that it’s coming.”.

Contact him at [email protected].

Purchasing a vehicle can be exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. While it’s fun to pick out a vehicle to fit your needs, dealing with financing or trade-in values can also be daunting.

When it’s time to start shopping, how do you know how much car you can afford for $300 per month.

You need to consider factors such as insurance coverage, fuel costs, and the expense of any future repairs when budgeting for a vehicle purchase. There’s more to just the price tag in the vehicle window when it comes to financing a vehicle.

Are you able to pay for tax, title, and licensing upfront, or do you need to roll those expenses into the loan. These are all aspects of the car-buying experience that help determine how much you can afford to borrow.

When looking at the car payment itself, experts recommend that you keep a new car payment at no more than 15% of your take-home pay, while a used car should be no more than 10%. Once you add in expenses such as fuel, maintenance, and insurance premiums, you don’t want to exceed 20% of your take-home pay with either a used or new vehicle.

Lenders look at your debt-to-income ratio, which compares what your income is versus your monthly expenses. Most lenders prefer a DTI of no more than 45%, although some will work with you if you’re as high as 50%.

To get an accurate estimate, you need to: Insurance premiums vary by vehicle type and individual drivers.

You may also want to take this time to reach out to several insurance agents for quotes so that you can compare the bottom line of your insurance costs and get the best deal. Factors that affect your insurance costs include:

Think about how many miles you drive to work or school each day, as well as what type of driving it is. Do you drive more in the city or on the highway.

Take the average miles per gallon of the vehicles you’re looking at and figure out how much fuel you will use per month, then multiply that by the average gas prices in your area. This will provide you with an estimate of fuel expenses per month.

Research the average costs of parts and service on any vehicles you’re considering as possible purchases to compare the costs. Depending on the make, model, and year, repair and maintenance expenses can vary quite a bit from one vehicle to another.

Purchasing a vehicle can be an exciting experience, and finding the car of your dreams with all the features you desire can make anyone smile. Be realistic when considering your budget because a vehicle isn’t worth the car payment if you can’t afford to drive it or maintain it.

It’s better to have a little more to put toward repairs, maintenance, or even eating out or catching a movie at the cinema than to have to push it to make ends meet each month for your car payment. If you’ve used a car loan calculator, added in for fuel, maintenance, and insurance, and find that you can realistically afford $300 per month for your car expenses, it’s time to look at what type of car that will get you.

Rydell Outlet offers a wide selection of vehicles in this price range and can work with you to get financing, even if you have bad or no credit. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly vehicle like a Honda Odyssey, a fuel-efficient model like a Nissan Versa, or a work-ready truck such as a GMC Sierra 1500, we’ve got you covered.

Check out our inventory online or stop in today. Contact a Rydell team member for more information.

In 2019, I bought a three-bedroom, 1,400-square-feet house in Atlanta, Georgia for $196,000. I figured I could earn extra income by renting out the spare rooms on Airbnb, especially since I traveled a lot for work and was rarely home.

No one wanted to share a house with a stranger in the early days of the pandemic. My work travels also stopped, so I was living alone in a house that felt too big.

Before getting started, I had to submit building, electrical and plumbing permits to the city planning office. Then I purchased a shed from Liberty Storage Solutions and hired a local contracting team to pour a concrete slab foundation.

Overall, it cost me around $35,000 to build the home, which includes the prefabricated shed structure, labor and material costs. Instead of taking out a bank loan, I cashed out $8,500 in stocks and put about $20,000 on my credit cards to pay for everything.

While the house was being built, I rented out my primary home and rented a room from my neighbor for $300 a month. After we finished building the 296-square-foot tiny home in March 2021, I immediately rented it out on Airbnb for a few months to recoup costs.

And this January, I moved into the tiny home to save on living expenses. Here are the monthly associated costs for both homes:

All of this is covered by the $2,725 I make from renting out the main house, which means I’m able to live in my tiny home for free. To give the place a light and airy feel, I painted the walls a coastal blue shade and added some rustic touches like a wooden ladder leading to the loft’s queen-sized mattress.

My favorite area is the kitchen. Most people are surprised to see that it has a full-sized fridge and extra large sink.

I sometimes forget I’m living in a shed. I’ve had to downsize my wardrobe and shoe collection.

Every few weeks, we do a wardrobe swap. I don’t have friends over very often, but once the weather gets warmer, I plan to use the fire pit as a hosting area.

I believe that tiny homes will play an important role in offsetting the global housing crisis. Last year, I gave a TEDx Talk about how they can help create a sustainable sharing economy for land.

Renting out more and more space for vacations means less space for folks who need long-term homes. I’ve since decreased my portfolio and am renting to local students and low-income workers.

This year, I’m excited to fully experience the tiny home lifestyle for myself. It’s amazing what you can do with a bit of backyard space.

In 2021, she founded LANDRIFT, a digital real estate marketplace, amidst the conversation around the impact of short-term rentals on housing affordability and availability. She holds a master’s degree in management information systems from Indiana University.

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