I live with my parents, who have savings of 6 million and a pension of 30,000 per month
Before, I curiously asked them how much living expenses we needed for our family of three each month. After some thought, my mother told me that most of my expenses were spent on food, which was about 6,000 yuan a month.
For families living in Shanghai, this number may be a bit low, but when I dig deeper, I discover the secret. Despite the fact that their parents have a lot of pensions, they still live frugally. They don't pursue luxury, and they don't like to shop.
Instead, they prefer to cook at home and live a simple and comfortable life. Mom would go to the park or market every morning to buy fresh ingredients. They have high requirements for food quality and often emphasize the importance of a healthy diet.
In addition, they travel regularly, but usually choose the off-season to save money. I live with them, and although I am in my 40s, my consumption is low. My personal expenses at work are mainly transportation, phone and lunch.
On weekends I occasionally go out to eat or go for a walk in the park, but I can't buy a few clothes in a year. I don't have much interest in luxury, which makes me more rational in my consumption.
For our family, the family dinner on the weekend will be a little more substantial. We will make a traditional Chinese breakfast together, such as steamed buns, fried dough sticks, roasted pork and tofu brain, as well as some hard dishes such as braised pork and stewed pork ribs.
Most of the time we cook our own meals and don't eat out, so the cost is not high. Every family's expenses are different, depending on each person's lifestyle and consumption perceptions.
Even though my parents' expenses were relatively low, they lived comfortably and it was enough for them. What about you, and how much do you spend each month?