I'm going to continue to track the same three categories monthly, as they remain my highest spending. The car and the cat are generally the next two highest expenses, but they are lumpy and have far less of a discretionary component.
| Entertain |Restaurants | Groceries | Total |
|------------|-------------|------------|------------|
DEC 2019 | $ 358 | $ 309 | $ 281 | $ 3553 |
AVG 2020 | $ 102 | $ 106 | $ 226 | $ 3419 |
AVG 2021 | $ 92 | $ 193 | $ 180 | $ 3935 |
|------------|-------------|------------|------------|
JAN 2022 | $ 51 | $ 298 | $ 140 | $ 2145 |
|------------|-------------|------------|------------|
FEB 2022 | $ 10 | $ 251 | $ 103 | $ 2086 |
|------------|-------------|------------|------------|
YTD AVG | $ 31 | $ 275 | $ 122 | $ 1761 |
|------------|-------------|------------|------------|
Comparing to 2021 averageIt would appear that
groceries are finally becoming reasonable. I am participating in a
$10/week grocery challenge this year (sporadically) and this is helping remind me that just because it looks good in the store does not mean I should take it home! I can only eat so much.
And speaking of eating...lots of
eating out for Reasons. That Reason has disappeared, so should see a drop, but maybe not till March, as there was a lot of eating out during the move.
Biggest expense these last two months was the
move at $710. It's expensive having heavy furniture. Worth it, but I'd rather not pay for this again anytime soon.
Next I would say
rent, even though I didn't pay at the old place. That landlord has promised to return my deposit, but he is sketchy so until it happens, I consider rent effectively double paid.
Gas was $156, about double what it usually is due to the driving back and forth between the two places. The movers only took the largest & heaviest furniture, plus a limited amount of boxed items.
Mr. Kitty had expenses of $187 over the two months, but I have a year's supply of flea medicine at a bit of a discount for bulk buy.
Upcoming I expect to pay:
a bit for setting-up-house expenses (wood refinishing, storage solutions)
a bit more on personal expenses as the move will no longer suck up all my free time
rent is going up $400 and utilities will go up as well (no more solar panels; have to pay for water here)
Of course will try to apply Mustachian principles to keep those as low as possible. I have already spotted a few thrift stores that might supply some of the storage needs.