take a look at how retired american lives.

来源: faseb 于 2012-10-17 15:42:17 [] [旧帖] [给我悄悄话] 阅读数 : (1311 bytes)

Mark Houlné, 63, has also been learning to budget his benefits. He began collecting Social Security last year after getting laid off from a manufacturing company in 2009 and failing to find full-time work.

Their income totals $3,100 a month: His $1,500 in Social Security and a $300 monthly pension, as well as $1,300 in disability for his wife, Susan, who had a cerebral hemorrhage in 1987.

Their biggest expense is rent, at $975 per month; food and other household expenses cost them about $850. They spend another $1,080 on electricity, water, phone, Internet, cable, car insurance, credit card payments and medical bills. And they try to keep a $100 buffer for incidentals like a new battery for the car or haircuts.

"We never take vacations, go out to eat only on our anniversary, buy no birthday or Christmas presents -- except for our grandkids -- never shop at the mall, never go to the movies or shows and control costs by carefully planning a budget," said Houlné.

They're uninsured, so their biggest concern is medical expenses. When his wife, Susan, had shingles recently, they had to use their credit card to cover $900 in doctor fees and medications.

A $1.7% cost of living increase will mean a $48 monthly bump for them.

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