Vermont is expensive . . . .
Today had an interesting article about how much it takes (costs) to live here in VT and there are interesting assumptions, etc. Frankly, the study seems pretty well done (and you have to make assumptions somewhere - it’s good to explain them so people know). It explains to me several things about our budget and why certain things seem tight and others don’t why other people feel certain pressures that we may not, etc. (I knew childcare was expensive but wow!) For example, one way we help make ends meet by owning just one car, not driving a lot (We use it most days, esp this time of year, but we don’t go very far), and Steve takes the bus. We also don’t go out to eat or to the movies a lot. But we do have DSL (for example) and and we do give a set amount of money away each month (not assumed in the study of course) . But we also receive WIC and the kids health insurance is from the state (so we do receive gov’t subsidies) though we have to pay a premium, and Steve’s employer, while providing health insurance for he and I, pays about half which leaves us in this day and age with a good chunk left to pay ourselves (hence why we have opted the state route for the kids - we save a lot even with the premium!). This article sounds like it assumes 100% health coverage which no one has here that I know of. Anyway, it was interesting. I thought the amount Steve makes was a ton when I was younger and I see now why it isn’t (though I’m not complaining). Life in VT is expensive! And it’s not just all these kids! But what a blessing to have them all, and to live here where their school class size is small, the quality of life is good, and we have such a great church, a nice home in a nice neighborhood, and honestly all our needs are more than provided for. God is and has been so good to us! For this we are very deeply thankful.