Aneesh: it's really not that hard. For two adults and three kids that is not much money for food, utilities (particularly heating + ac), internet, two cell pho

Aneesh: it's really not that hard. For two adults and three kids that is not much money for food, utilities (particularly heating + ac), internet, two cell phones, transport, clothes, pets and the inevitable accidents life throws at you, eg $35 to go to the doctor plus $50 for medicine for even simple illnesses. Don't mock them until you've tried it, particularly given how expensive groceries are on the E coast. My data point is that when I moved from WI to NYC my grocery bill for purchasing basically identical food rose by 130%.