Chapter 1902: Chapter 1902: Economic Crisis 2

That’s right, this building has heating. Feng Qingxue felt it as soon as she entered, very warm.

Now hearing Lu Jiang’s explanation, she was dumbfounded, “So, you’re saying we have to pay a hundred bucks just for rent and utilities every month? My goodness, it wasn’t this expensive when I paid rent before, I remember it being just a few bucks.”

Lu Jiang shrugged, “Rent for a single-story house is different from an apartment. Apartments are more expensive. We’re in a three-story building; what kind of house was it before? If it wasn’t a single-story, it was an adobe house, even a hundred square meters was just a couple bucks, barely counted.”

Feng Qingxue casually picked up a notebook from Lu Jiang’s desk, grabbed a pen from the pen holder, and noted down expenses like rent, heating, and utilities, “We need to seriously consider all our expenses. I still owe Uncle Xia ten thousand dollars. With these expenses, when will the debt be paid off?”

“Why did you borrow so much money? Was it urgent? You never mentioned it.” Because it wasn’t convenient to talk about it over the phone, Lu Jiang was unaware of her significant antiques purchase spree in Shanghai.

Feng Qingxue waved her hand, “We’ll talk about that tonight. Let’s plan our expenses first.”

Lu Jiang came close to her, seeing she had already written down rent and utilities as 100 yuan, totaling 1200 yuan per year, and heating costs 30 yuan, “Ye Yan and Fubao are starting middle school soon, and the tuition fees are slightly higher. Their tuition, along with paper and pen costs will be around ten to twenty bucks a month each, right? The kids in our family are quite extravagant, liking to buy snacks and toys.”

Lu Jiang thought for a moment, “Our yard has good teaching resources, so tuition is a bit pricey. I heard from the officials below that their kids’ primary school tuition seems to be five bucks, textbook fees two bucks, middle and high school around ten bucks, miscellaneous fees four or five bucks, I can’t remember. This is paid twice a year, not monthly.”

Feng Qingxue paused and wrote in the notebook, “Let’s calculate at the highest rate. Middle school each semester is 10 plus 5 yuan, totaling 30 yuan a year, two kids are 70 yuan. Elementary school is 5 yuan plus 2 yuan each semester, totaling 42 yuan for three kids, five kids are 112 yuan per year, stationery fees are extra, pocket money is extra, and Xibao’s expenses aren’t included.”

Lu Jiang murmured, “Tuition aside, living expenses for each kid calculated at ten bucks, including pocket money and stationery fees.”

“Ten yuan per month per person is about right, mainly stationery costs. The kids need to practice calligraphy, Fubao and Zhuangzhuang especially like drawing, they can take pens, ink, and paper from me. I bought plenty at the Shanghai Ancient Books Store, enough to last for years.” Feng Qingxue carefully noted it down, clear as day, “Next would be your party dues, how much do you pay each month?”

“Two percent, seven yuan two,” Lu Jiang replied.

Feng Qingxue noted it down, “Seven point two per month, totaling 86.4 per year. Mine is one percent, 1.35 yuan per month, totaling 16.2 per year. That’s recorded, let’s discuss the next expense.”

Lu Jiang smiled, “The largest expense is food.”

“Our family is quite generous with food spending. Fortunately, prices are low, and we have resources as a supplement, so let’s say 150 per month.” Feng Qingxue noted this down, murmuring, “It’s good you don’t smoke or drink, saving a bit of expense. But we’ll have to account for fuel costs, right? What do you think is appropriate? We’ll need the car when the kids start school.”

“They go to school in the compound, very close, let them walk for exercise. Let’s note 20 bucks for fuel, for picking people up and dropping them off, we’ll definitely use it monthly.”

Feng Qingxue noted it down, “We can’t forget about our snow cream, toothpaste, soap, toilet paper, and such. Let’s say 20 yuan.”