My wife used to have cable until we got married and with NetFlix she hasn't complained about missing anything. in fact the other day we went to a friends house and got annoyed at all the commercials on his cable. It's been a long time since we have seen a commercial that some of the people looked totally different and we had to ask who is that...

Sweet summer with low utilities
 

May's housing costs:

Natural Gas - $35.69
Electricity - $58.04
Water - $26.16

Other expenses:

Netflix - $7.99
Cable/WiFi - $0.00
Telephone - $56.18
Insurance - $14.00
Condo Fees - $150.00
Property Tax - $109.26
Mortgage P+I - $1,303.57

Total April '11 Housing Costs: $1,760.89

Rent collection from housemates: $1,738.10

Monthly Deficit: $22.79
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With last month's huge wireless/cable bill, we switched to basic cable and slow internet and opted for Netflix. There's now a credit on our cable bill, so no payment to them this month :).

I increased the mortgage to $300/week this month to pay off some of the principle and now just recently switched it back to $155/week. Looks like switching from CFLs to incandescents only cost us about $20 extra a month, so all in all not bad.

I love this thread, thanks for the detail. I can tell your saving your stories for you book about renting out property. I definitely wanted to hear more about the guy and the prostitute :D

I wonder why you quit your job tho. I mean, maybe move to part time or start an ebay business, but to quit all together... cash is cash... strike while the irons hot.

Anyway, I am definitely interested in this thread. wish I was young and single and childless now that the housing prices here in AZ have tanked. I am happy to see you have so much success so quickly. Lookin forward to reading more.

I'm glad you enjoy this thread. I like how it documents my progress and experiences every month. The prostitute story is definitely one of my favourites to tell at a party. I actually made a YouTube video entry after it happened 2 years ago. YouTube video

As for why I quit my bank job, I was already working part-time there was much more behind the scenes that was just simply sketchy. It just got to the point where I was going to work thinking "why am I dealing with all this silly upper management business stress when I can make 60% as much money with the rental property with 10% of the effort and be my own boss?"

June's housing costs:

Natural Gas - $30.62
Electricity - $82.57
Water - $50.14

Other expenses:

Netflix - $7.99
Cable/WiFi - $33.05
Telephone - $41.61
Insurance - $14.00
Condo Fees - $150.00
Property Tax - $109.26
Mortgage P+I - $673.97

Total April '11 Housing Costs: $1,193.21

Rent collection from housemates: $1,738.10

Monthly Surplus: $544.89

July's housing costs:

Natural Gas - $37.86
Electricity - $45.60
Water - $50.14

Other expenses:

Netflix - $7.99
Cable/WiFi - $24.32
Telephone - $45.47
Insurance - $14.00
Condo Fees - $150.00
Property Tax - $109.26
Mortgage P+I - $673.97

Total July '11 Housing Costs: $1,158.61

Rent collection from housemates: $1,738.10

Monthly Surplus: $579.49
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It's odd that my water bill was exactly the same as last month. I'll have to investigate with my condo association to make sure it was correct.

August's housing costs:

Natural Gas - $28.44
Electricity - $77.57
Water - $37.71

Other expenses:

Netflix - $7.99
Cable/WiFi - $53.85
Telephone - $77.65
Insurance - $14.00
Condo Fees - $150.00
Property Tax - $109.26
Mortgage P+I - $673.97

Total July '11 Housing Costs: $1,230.44

Rent collection from housemates: $1,911.90

Monthly Surplus: $681.46
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New housemates are paying higher rent $440/week collectively.

September's housing costs:

Natural Gas - $32.06
Electricity - $70.85
Water - $36.19

Other expenses:

Netflix - $7.99
Cable/WiFi - $53.85
Telephone - $27.48
Insurance - $14.00
Condo Fees - $150.00
Property Tax - $109.26
Mortgage P+I - $673.97

Total July '11 Housing Costs: $1,172.65

Rent collection from housemates: $1,911.90

Monthly Surplus: $739.25
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October's housing costs:

Natural Gas - $49.44
Electricity - $44.62
Water - $34.66

Other expenses:

Netflix - $7.99
Cable/WiFi - $53.85
Telephone - $46.57
Insurance - $14.00
Condo Fees - $150.00
Property Tax - $109.26
Mortgage P+I - $673.97

Total July '11 Housing Costs: $1,184.36

Rent collection from housemates: $1,911.90

Monthly Surplus: $727.54
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One of my housemates prefers to shower at the YMCA (no idea why) and that makes my water bill super low!

Check and see if he is the cop from the village people :thumbup: