CHAPTER 1903: CHAPTER 1903: ECONOMIC CRISIS 3

Lu Jiang reminded, "Don’t forget our occasional dining out expenses, hosting meals, or visiting the sick expenses. On average, it costs dozens of yuan a month, plus clothes and shoes for you and the kids."

Feng Qingxue waved her hand, "The state covers both of us, no need to spend money on that, primarily for the kids."

Kids grow quickly and need new clothes every year.

Clothes can be lengthened and widened, patched and mended, but there’s no way for shoes; when they get too small, they have to be discarded. Fubao is more careful; some of the old clothes and shoes can be given away, but Ye Yan and the triplets almost wear their shoes out.

Feng Qingxue sighed and noted down dining out, hosting meals, visiting expenses, and other social interactions, each month spending 50 yuan.

"Even if everyone takes pride in wearing green military uniforms, you can’t always wear them. I think bright colors suit your fair skin better. You should make two new outfits every year; don’t be so hard on yourself." Lu Jiang realized his wife has been working for years without buying new clothes, and her old leather shoes, bought around the time they got married, are somewhat outdated now.

Suddenly, Lu Jiang felt a pang of heartache, silently blaming himself for neglect.

Feng Qingxue shrugged it off, "There are plenty of places to spend money. We old folks should just cut back a bit. Don’t forget, we also send 100 yuan to the orphanage every month. I must note that down, and for those martyrs’ families, how much per month?"

Lu Jiang sighed, "Some are still receiving money, some have stopped. I support until the kids turn eighteen, when they become adults, they should take responsibility for their lives. The unattached elderly and young children in martyrs’ families are still being supported, slightly more this year than last, about eighty yuan a month."

Feng Qingxue acknowledged it was quite an expense.

"From now on, we can’t keep buying new clothes for Fubao. Others wear clothes for three new years, three old years, and mend them for another three years. Our family doesn’t need to go that far, but we can’t be extravagant either. Cloth tickets are limited; let’s budget 10 yuan per month for the kids, making 120 yuan a year, which is quite a bit. About 30 yuan quarterly. Yunyun has sent clothes and shoes for them through someone, so we can save some next year."

Lu Jiang looked at the bills, "So just for the kids’ school fees and living expenses, it costs twenty to thirty yuan a month?"

"Of course!" Feng Qingxue cleared her throat, "Listen carefully, various rental, water, and electricity bills are 100, orphanage 100, martyrs’ families 80, children’s living expenses and clothing fees 20, food expenses 100, outings and social engagements 50, fuel expenses 20, party fees for two people 8.55, household goods 20, our family’s necessary monthly expenses are 498.55, nearly five hundred yuan. This doesn’t include dad and Xibao’s living expenses, or annual heating and school fees. Lu, our leader, your monthly salary and allowances aren’t enough to cover living expenses!"

Lu Jiang was stunned, "Calculate it again, I’m not earning enough to spend?"

Feng Qingxue nodded, luckily she calculated carefully today, otherwise, she’d still be living extravagantly.

"Your salary is 360 a month, allowance is thirty percent, making a total of 468 yuan. My salary is 135, plus a ten percent allowance, making a total of 148.5 yuan, other minor subsidies are negligible. I calculated, our monthly income is 616.5, subtracting 498.55 expenses, leaving a little over a hundred. Don’t forget dad and Xibao’s living expenses, and heating and tuition fees."

Lu Jiang nearly muttered like in a dream, "It’s really a shock when you calculate it."