In 2002 the total, noncapital, living expenses of 1,216 farm families enrolled in the Illinois Farm Business Farm Management Association (FBFM) averaged $44,475–or $3,706 a month for each family (Table 1). This average was 2.9 percent higher than 2001 and 4.5 percent higher than in 2000. Another $4,380 was used to buy capital items such as the personal share of the family automobile, furniture, and household equipment. Thus, the grand total for living expenses averaged $48,855 for 2002 compared with $48,097 for 2001, or a $758 increase per family. The average amount spent per family for capital items was $505 less, while noncapital expenses increased $1,263 per family. The sample farms, which were mainly grain farms, were located primarily in central and northern Illinois.
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