Does $1200 sound about right for three people to live on for a month?

Holy crap, no. Our mortgage with taxes alone is over $1700.

If you pm me I can email you a budget spreadsheet that I use. That way you can make sure you aren't forgetting anything. Every city/town is different, so no one will know but you.

I just mean that seems like way to much money for only three people.

We spend maybe 1000 a month on bills and food. including rent.

Where do you live? The rent/cost of living is great in your area. Around here $1000 would not cover rent/utilities on a 2 BR apt which I would guess would be the minimize size for 3 people.

That includes the rent all the utilities, laundry quarters, and diapers.

Our rent is $550 and we have a two bedroom apartment.

Yeah that seems like its very little. Just our cell, cable/internet, car insurance, car payment comes to $805.

We live on that per month...weve actually lived on less!!! but thats about right...make sure you budget for when the electric bill tends to sky rocket (the coldest/hottest months)...and dont try to skimp on gas and food unless you can stick to it...make sure the budget is livable..and make changes accordingly.

WOW- $500 rents! Everything is relative I guess. If your rent/mortgage is low- you can live on less. And you all have great utility rates as well. My gas/electric last month was 250- I almost fell on the floor. We have a mortgage, but when we rented our rent was $800/ for a one bedroom (before kids). It is so interesting to hear about life in other parts of the country. It gives me perspective when people say "we live on $15K/year". I think it all goes back to the cost of the basics like rent/mortgage and utilities rather than greed/ quality of life.