text: how can you tell if you can afford a second home? we have one mortgage and two college-bound teenagers. how do you budget it out? here is what you do. 1) figure out every bill you have mtg/car/ins/gas/ i mean every thing you spend money on monthly. 2) figure out how much per month you and you husband bring in after taxes 3)what ever you just came up with per month spending add $600 to it for good measure. 4)figure out how much you would be spending per month on you second home taxes insurance and mortgage 5) now if all of you bills and debts per month equal about 50%  of you combined income you have the cash to get the home if it is more you will be soon in a financial bind unless you start cutting out those dinners and movies and you child's education.