So what does it cost for utilities on your Homestead???

mikec4193 · #1 03/13/12, 08:04 AM

HI Everyone

I have been saving like crazy and working like a dog to get ready to make the shift from suburban "Hampster Wheel" lifestyle to a more layed back country style (in 2015). I watch every penny that I earn so I was wondering if you kinds folks could tell me what your utilities run you?
I have a 1700 sq. ft house (mid 70's vintage ranch). I also have a 30x30 pole barn / shop (8 - 6 foot long lights) . My heat and hot water is fuel oil.

So my heat and hot water is $333 a month (budgeted by the oil company), my electric runs between $50 to $90 a month. Our cook stove is bottled gas and that runs about $10 a month.

My goal is to be out of this house in or around 2015 and move to a smaller house but a larger barn type structure. I am in the Northeastern area of the country so I am wondering if I can get out nearer to my son (NE Kansas) would the basic monthly utlities bills be less...what would say a 40x40 barn and a smaller house cost to actually keep up??...what other costs should I need to be ready for??

Any help would be a wonderful thing.

MikeC

PNWest · #2 03/13/12, 08:08 AM

In the various areas you would like to know about, call utilities and find out how much they charge per killowatt. Times that by your current useage for a ball park figure.

sunflower-n-ks · #3 03/13/12, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PNWest

In the various areas you would like to know about, call utilities and find out how much they charge per killowatt. Times that by your current useage for a ball park figure.

Yep, what PNWest says. Different utilities providers charge different rates even in the same general area. My rates here are less than someone maybe 50 miles away but in a different service area. Remember also that generally I think the weather is milder here, but the summer heat might cause you more air conditioning costs, depending on how you chose to live. My electric bill is less than my close neighbor. Mine includes electric heat, they use wood. ??

Ramblin Wreck · #4 03/13/12, 11:20 AM

Your monthly bills will vary depending upon your rate and lifestyle choices. My electric bill averages about $100 per month, $50 or so in the cold months and $150 or so for a very hot Summer month. I use electricity to power the lights, fridge, freezer, AC, well pump, washer, dryer, fans for two propane furnaces, a barn, a garage, and other small appliances. The light bulbs are low wattage flourescent types.

My propane gas bill averages about $30-$40 per month, and is mostly dependent upon price fluctuations. I fill my tank once per year in the Summer, hopefully when the prices are at their lowest. I use propane for cooking, hot water, and backup heating, relying on a wood stove for most of my heat.

If you choose to heat with wood, either your home or hot water, you can save a lot of money. But it takes time and equipment. It really stretches my budget though, and getting out and cutting/splitting wood is good exercise.

TxMex · #5 03/13/12, 12:25 PM

Sometimes you need to spend money to save money. Last summer during record heat waves my very highest electric bill was $117 with the central A/C cranking at full blast. However, I replaced my outside A/C unit with a slightly larger unit that was the most efficient I could buy and at the same time I added a foot of blown in insulation to the attic. Both of these will end up paying for themselves and in a shorter time than most folks think.

What is currently eating my lunch is heating. I have a pellet stove and on really cold days it will eat a bag of pellets @ $5 per bag. However, I have started working on using whole dried corn kernels in the stove and it works great. I find that it works better if I'll mix at least 30% pellets in with the corn. Needless to say I can grow my own field corn and lower my heating bill by 70%! Not to mention that it is easily and quickly renewable.

My average monthly bills run: Electric-$60, Water-$35, Propane-$25. When looking at these figures remember I'm not running heat lamps over baby chicks, no deep well pump, no clothes dryer, my stove is gas, and not many electronic devices.

Callieslamb · #6 03/13/12, 02:57 PM

QUOTE=mikec4193;5769590]........I have been saving like crazy and working like a dog to get ready to make the shift from suburban "Hampster Wheel" lifestyle to a more layed back country style ....................../QUOTE]

I just had to chuckle. Ever once in a while, DH and I play 'remember when'....when we didn't have so many chores? When we didn't have so many emergencies...when we talked about something besides the farm work.....you know, back when we had that layed back city life-style. We have so much less time now than ever before.

We use 500 gallons of propane very 14 months. Elec averages about $115 per month. We have a well so the water is included in the electric bill. This is to run the house and the barn, heating parts of the barn also. It will vary by where you live, how you live and what you live in.

chewie · #7 03/13/12, 03:11 PM

our place is all elec., in floor heat, barn use, sometimes a tank heater for horses. our highest bill this winter was $200. our house is extremely well insulated. its new, we used foam forms for the walls.

and sorry, but also getting a chuckle at the 'layed back' statement. uh, I work like crazy some days/weeks to make this work for us!! and watch others go on vaca while I stay home and milk goats. heck, I just spent over $100 on a couple used horse blankets, and do not remember the last time I spent that much on my own clothing?!!!
just spent 14k on a tractor, and have never spent that on any car/vehicle for myself!! and its no fun to have to buy eggs AND layer mix in the same week! (winter)

honestly, it would be cheaper and easier to live in a small house in a small town. maybe i'm nuts tho, cuz I would only be working my way right back to this! somehow, having a horse nicker at me in the morning, and watching chickens scratch in the yard is pay enough to make it work, but some days its a big job, huge!

TnAndy · #8 03/13/12, 06:50 PM

Water: zero (Gravity fed spring, no pump)
Sewer: zero (Septic)
Heat: Wood Maybe $100/yr for couple chains/gas/oil
Electric: They pay us 15-30/mo (Installed solar)
Propane: ~$25/mo
Phone: ~60/mo, but changing to Magic Jack, $20/yr
Dish: $60/mo
Internet: Free/wireless/high speed

If we dropped the Dish service, we'd actually be at, or slightly below, zero.

sammyd · #9 03/13/12, 08:31 PM

we get a break on the meter for the shed since we claim as a farm.
Other than that you're better off looking at the rates where you are or plan to be.

Ozarks Tom · #10 03/13/12, 08:39 PM

The best money we've ever spent (besides buying this place) was adding 9" of blown in insulation to our attic last spring. Paid for itself in electric savings last summer, and saved us $400 on propane this winter. 1700 sf, $391.

#11 03/13/12, 08:46 PM

High speed internet and phone $63/mo.

Electricity, About $70 a month for what I use and $25/mo for the priviledge of being hooked up to the electric company.

Heat, wood heat for the past 5 months has been $400 for the whole time because I had to buy the wood.

Water, sewer, and garbage are zero.

am1too · #12 03/13/12, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikec4193

HI Everyone

I have been saving like crazy and working like a dog to get ready to make the shift from suburban "Hampster Wheel" lifestyle to a more layed back country style (in 2015). I watch every penny that I earn so I was wondering if you kinds folks could tell me what your utilities run you?
I have a 1700 sq. ft house (mid 70's vintage ranch). I also have a 30x30 pole barn / shop (8 - 6 foot long lights) . My heat and hot water is fuel oil.

So my heat and hot water is $333 a month (budgeted by the oil company), my electric runs between $50 to $90 a month. Our cook stove is bottled gas and that runs about $10 a month.

My goal is to be out of this house in or around 2015 and move to a smaller house but a larger barn type structure. I am in the Northeastern area of the country so I am wondering if I can get out nearer to my son (NE Kansas) would the basic monthly utlities bills be less...what would say a 40x40 barn and a smaller house cost to actually keep up??...what other costs should I need to be ready for??

Any help would be a wonderful thing.

MikeC

Well they're so low I won't post them. Not I'm not embarassed. I just wouldn't want you to get jealous and have to explain.

MO_cows · #13 03/13/12, 09:03 PM

Every place is gonna be different. Electric rates seem to run higher in the northeast. And fuel oil seems to be more expensive than natural gas or propane, too. Our electric bill varies from $80/mo up to $250/mo in the peak of summer. We are running 2 fridges, a big freezer, electric fence charger and stock tank heaters in winter. That includes $10 for our street light. Water bill, $60-$80, that includes 100+ gallons a day to the animals. Propane, we can usually squeak by with one tank full to start the winter. Last winter was harsh, we needed an extra fill, $900 for the year. House phone, 1 cell phone, 1 smart phone and home internet, $180/mo.

pancho · #14 03/13/12, 09:12 PM

Water-$12/month
Electricity-$60/month
Propane-$200/year
Land line, cell phone, internet-$100/month
Taxes-$200/year

Bentley · #15 03/14/12, 06:10 AM

Elect $120
Gas $35
Water $25
Sewer, garbage $0
Cell phone $100 (2 phones)
Dish $85
And then there's taxes and insurance.....bleah

B

TnAndy · #16 03/14/12, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bentley

And then there's taxes and insurance.....bleah

B

Yep.....that's the kicker for us too.

Property taxes $1200/yr
House insurance $600/yr ( w/$2000 ded )
Car insurance $800/yr
Health Ins $3,000/yr

That's right at 600/mo whether you get out of bed or not.....and I can't figure much way to reduce it.

Bentley · #17 03/14/12, 07:18 AM

I'm jealous.

Home And car ins $165/month, $2000/year
Property taxes $1200/year
Health ins $10200/year (gulp). Up 12% this year

grandma12703 · #18 03/14/12, 10:49 AM

Solar panels with 6 batteries = electricity $0
Antenna with 11 channels (clear as cable now that digital) = cable $0
Wood stove for hear = gas for heat $0
cell phone = $55.00 month
Water well with solar pump = water $0
car insurance = full coverage on 2007 jeep(full coverage) and dodge dakota (liability) $53.00/mo.
Property tax $32.00 year
Health insurance $3744.00 per year
Life insurance $435.00 per year
propane = for propane cook stove $240.00 year/$20.00 month

simplegirl · #19 03/14/12, 11:26 AM

I'm in mid Missouri and get my electric from a coop. Our electric is generally about 1200 KWH a month which is about $120. Our propane for heat only is about $2600 a year but we pay monthly.

Our home is about 1500 square feet upstairs and a bit less in the basement. We do have a couple of refridgerators running and an older freezer plus 2 electric water heaters so our electric usage is probably a bit higher than necessary for sure.

Joshie · #20 03/14/12, 01:58 PM

I wouldn't call country living laid back. It's a whole lot more work than suburban living. An argument could be made that it's far more like the proverbial hamster wheel. Each problem is replaced by another.