Mortgage of 180,000 costs $1200 a month, 2 bedroom new home, 3 bathrooms, 1660 sq.ft. - utilities are $100 month for gas and electricity each but this is usually too much we pay the same amount each month and get a refund at the end of the year.

Just my wife and I in the home, we seldom eat out and spend about $600 month on groceries.

We both live close to work so transport costs are low, gas at the moment is only 66cents litre.