Families Spend More on Communication

As various means of communications such as cell phone and PC communications appear, families are spending more and more money on communication expenses.

Researchers at the National Council of Housewives reported on May 11 that, on average, a famil spends $167 a month on communications.

This amount totals 5.8% of their monthly average income. When this is divided into parents' and children's expenses, parents spend an average of $100 a month while children spend an average of $67. However, the Council discovered that when regular phone expenses are included children spend just as much as their parents on communication.

The average monthly bill for cellular and regular phones are $93 and $56 respectively. Cellular phone use has increased and accounts for the majority of communication expenses. Of the 108 families surveyed, 61.7% use the Internet and the monthly average charge for them is almost $27 a month for each family. However, if regular phone expense are included it, the bill may be even higher. On the other hand, only 13 families, or 7.4% reported having a beeper.

by Yu Ji-sang