I posted before, but I finally went over our 2018 numbers, even if they are somewhat disjointed.
My wife any I use a shared gnucash database to track our finances. I've set up an entirely new database, with better spending categorization, and actual liability tracking. I'm trying to figure out the best format for sharing the reports I've generated here. The thing is, as I have set up our accounting using GAAP, a simple expense report does not capture the whole picture, nor does a cashflow statement. I suppose it is probably OK to omit liability principal repayment here... Loans will show up as expenses only when disbursed, after that the only expense that shows up is interest expense. Seeing as I am currently working on a second degree, our 2019 education spending will be very high. I am using loans for a lot of it due to low rates- particularly subsidized loans!
This is a graphical expense report for the second half of December 2018 in the new database. It certainly makes clear what our major expense is and will continue to be... daycare. Other than that it really isn't representative.
And here, full disclosure, is 2018's numbers. (Different categories, but the general gist is clear)
My 2018 takeaways:
Auto: Unusually high, we bought a decent car, and also had a lot of car work done, including a shop doing a subaru head gasket. 2019 should be cheaper. (Numbers also include gas)
Education: I'm getting a second degree.... and am working as hard as possible to make the investment worth it.
Childcare: Will be even more expensive, but we are going from a part time nanny to full time daycare, allowing me to get a job again. (Also we have family helping out financially with daycare)
Groceries: Over $300 a month in 2018 was a lot for 2 people and a baby.. I will work to reduce this.
Communications: We bought phones, and this covers cell + cable internet. I'll try to keep this lower, which is doable. (It will still be high- we just bought/0% financed $1600 worth of pixel phones, but will get us $1600 worth of plane/hotel gift cards in return two months from now, which we will use within the next two years.... so we get new phones for "free" and spread the travel cost out month to month at no cost. It seemed worth it? It was a google Fi promotion)
Pet expenses: $100 ish a month isn't bad.
Hobbies at $900- this looks worse than it is, because of craigslist flipping our net hobby expense in 2018 was close to only $100