Author Topic: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible  (Read 11104 times)

oldtoyota

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Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« on: June 17, 2014, 11:56:21 AM »
In some areas, we rock as a family. We cut expenses and don't look back. We have made great gains. Yay for that.

Imagine my horror when I added up what we have spent and…oh, it is a lot more than it should be. There's no one obvious area that is in need of being cut. I've cut a LOT already. What concerns me is that we'll have to cut a bit from a lot of areas. It's so much easier to cut all of an area instead of dribs and drabs from multiple categories.

I plan to look at MMM's budget to see what could be possible in terms of "realistic" goals for a frugal person.

Anyone care to share their average monthly expenses for any of the following--or more? It would be helpful to me to see what we could be aiming for in the following:

Mortgage
Gas (for home only)
Fuel (for cars)
Water
Electricity
Groceries
Restaurants
Phone
Life Ins
Car Ins
Holidays like Xmas

I did not include internet since I am stuck paying $77 for it unless I move.

ETA: We are two adults and one kid. We live in DC. I removed the mortgage from the list, because our mortgage is crazy cheap for this area. We'll be done paying for it in not too long.

« Last Edit: June 17, 2014, 12:35:38 PM by oldtoyota »

Cassie

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #1 on: June 17, 2014, 12:01:34 PM »
There are a lot of unknown variables. How many in your family & where do you live?  If you have kids do they go to public schools versus private, activities, etc?  You have to compare apples to apples for things to make sense.

Zikoris

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2014, 12:20:42 PM »
My boyfriend and I are probably not the best example as a lot of those categories don't apply to us, but what the hell. Two people, no kids.

Rent - $755. Includes electricity, electric heat, water.

No car, so no fuel, or insurance

Groceries - $230

Restaurants - $20 (Predominately artisan donuts and fries)

Phone - $65 for two basic cell phones

No life insurance

Christmas - about $200. Mostly tickets for us to go see shows, so maybe that shouldn't count - but we like to see shows around Christmas. We don't really exchange gifts, just stockings with things like edibles or scratch and wins. I make gifts for people sometimes, like a knitted hat or mittens or something.

Sonorous Epithet

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2014, 12:33:32 PM »
I don't think think information you're requesting would be all that useful. Numbers without context -- location, family size, etc etc. -- don't provide much insight. Don't get caught up in keeping up with the Mustachian Joneses.

Perhaps a case study would be more appropriate to finding things you can do, in the context of your own family's details.

oldtoyota

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2014, 12:34:40 PM »
There are a lot of unknown variables. How many in your family & where do you live?  If you have kids do they go to public schools versus private, activities, etc?  You have to compare apples to apples for things to make sense.

I hear you. I have some specific areas I want to cut, though, and I'm not asking about school or activities. Those things won't be applicable by the time I retire.

Edited: To correct a typo.
« Last Edit: June 18, 2014, 06:26:57 AM by oldtoyota »

frugaliknowit

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2014, 01:16:48 PM »
Better if you show us your numbers.  The reason is our costs and situations are different than yours so our numbers will not help much.

FrugalSpendthrift

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2014, 01:38:44 PM »
Don't get caught up in keeping up with the Mustachian Joneses.
I agree.  You should analyze your spending to make sure it is in line with your values, then you can be at peace with your decisions.  Making cuts to be in line with someone else's values won't be sustainable.  Check out the book 'Your money or your life'

As far as knowing where to try and make cuts, when I had the revelation that I need to reform, I started with the highest spending categories and the ones where it is easy to cut.  Refinance mortgage, sell the extra car, drive a more efficient car, drive less, renegotiate insurance.  Then I started targeting the more difficult to understand spending, like our electricity consumption and food habits.

And why are you stuck paying $77 for internet?

Greg

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #7 on: June 17, 2014, 02:18:38 PM »
Another approach that might help is setting a budget.  It's one thing to track spending, but quite another to set spending limits in different categories.  Take eating out for instance.  Say you spent $100 there last month.  And you think it should be $50.  Set that limit and track your spending as it happens, like have an envelope (real or mental) with that $50 in it.  Once it's spent, no more eating out.  This can be helpful for reducing spending to limits you set in advance.

oldtoyota

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #8 on: June 17, 2014, 03:02:06 PM »

And why are you stuck paying $77 for internet?

We have two options. One costs $77 and the other costs "$79" + taxes, fees, etc, etc.


ETA:
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/comcast-how-can-i-reduce-my-internet-costs/msg306773/#msg306773


Zikoris

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #9 on: June 17, 2014, 03:02:20 PM »
Quote
Please tell me more about the artisan donuts. 

*sigh* Our weakness. Here you go: www.cartems.com

$3/donut. They're really good if you're ever in Vancouver.

oldtoyota

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #10 on: June 17, 2014, 03:06:12 PM »
Don't get caught up in keeping up with the Mustachian Joneses.
I agree.  You should analyze your spending to make sure it is in line with your values, then you can be at peace with your decisions.  Making cuts to be in line with someone else's values won't be sustainable.  Check out the book 'Your money or your life'

As far as knowing where to try and make cuts, when I had the revelation that I need to reform, I started with the highest spending categories and the ones where it is easy to cut.  Refinance mortgage, sell the extra car, drive a more efficient car, drive less, renegotiate insurance.  Then I started targeting the more difficult to understand spending, like our electricity consumption and food habits.

And why are you stuck paying $77 for internet?

I think you misunderstand, my friend. I am not looking to make cuts to match the values of others. I would like to see what others are able to get their bills down to so I can get a realistic approximation of what is possible.

oldtoyota

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #11 on: June 17, 2014, 03:06:54 PM »
My boyfriend and I are probably not the best example as a lot of those categories don't apply to us, but what the hell. Two people, no kids.

Rent - $755. Includes electricity, electric heat, water.

No car, so no fuel, or insurance

Groceries - $230

Restaurants - $20 (Predominately artisan donuts and fries)

Phone - $65 for two basic cell phones

No life insurance

Christmas - about $200. Mostly tickets for us to go see shows, so maybe that shouldn't count - but we like to see shows around Christmas. We don't really exchange gifts, just stockings with things like edibles or scratch and wins. I make gifts for people sometimes, like a knitted hat or mittens or something.

Thank you! This is useful to me!!

oldtoyota

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #12 on: June 17, 2014, 03:12:57 PM »
Another approach that might help is setting a budget.  It's one thing to track spending, but quite another to set spending limits in different categories.  Take eating out for instance.  Say you spent $100 there last month.  And you think it should be $50.  Set that limit and track your spending as it happens, like have an envelope (real or mental) with that $50 in it.  Once it's spent, no more eating out.  This can be helpful for reducing spending to limits you set in advance.

Thanks. Great idea! I am going to talk to spouse about this one. Since I am the one that tracks spending in the software, it's easy to miscommunicate on this sort of thing.

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #13 on: June 17, 2014, 03:40:07 PM »
I don't think think information you're requesting would be all that useful. Numbers without context -- location, family size, etc etc. -- don't provide much insight. Don't get caught up in keeping up with the Mustachian Joneses.

Perhaps a case study would be more appropriate to finding things you can do, in the context of your own family's details.

I agree. I think each situation requests individual attention. I have 2 teens and moi.

Mortgage Rent $1600
Gas (for home only) $17
Fuel (for cars) $250
Water (included in rent)
Electricity $20
Groceries $500 (included in that budget is groceries, quick food pickups, coffee, Taco Tuesdays, and toiletries)
Restaurants (included in grocery budget)
Phone (too much) $140
Life Ins (income pre-tax. not sure. need to look. but low)
Car Ins $900
Holidays like Xmas - I just cut it down to $300. should be interesting because I spend approx $900/yr. But the family should survive through it. Well... not sure. may pass out due to a sugar cookie overdose.

I've finally getting it right with the budget after adding a sinking funds category in my budget. Best to you and your fam!

NinetyFour

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #14 on: June 17, 2014, 04:56:08 PM »
These are my averages per month in 2014.  Singleton here.  But utilities (gas, water, electricity) include my tenant in a separate dwelling.  He is also single.

Mortgage $1250 minimum, but I have been paying from $500 to $2000 extra per month
Gas (for home only) $72 (heat, clothes dryer, and stove/ovens in 2 (small) houses)
Fuel (for cars) $48 (I hate driving)
Water $46 (includes trash and sewer)
Electricity $43
Groceries $180
Restaurants $0
Phone $0 (I LOVE TING!!)
Life Ins not sure--some is taken out of my paycheck--it is a work benefit
Car Ins $870 per year (too much, I think!)
Holidays like Xmas $0

(My utilities would be much lower if my tenant were a mustachian.)

Emilyngh

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #15 on: June 17, 2014, 06:01:25 PM »
There are 3 of us, plus a stepdaughter on the weekends

mortgage: $820 (2,000 sq ft on 2 acres)
fuel: $100
water$20
electricity (includes ac, heat in winter, oven, etc everything's electric) $150
groceries: $400
restaurants: $35
phone: $10
life ins: $33
car insurance: $600 /yr
xmas and gifts: $1200 /yr (mostly for kids)

wtjbatman

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #16 on: June 17, 2014, 06:36:41 PM »
Rent a house: $335
Gas (for home only): $0
Fuel (for cars): $160
Water: $0
Electricity: $0
Groceries: $150
Restaurants: $0
Phone: $16
Life Ins: $0 (Job covers $175k)
Car Ins: $40
Holidays like Xmas: $20 (gift average over a year)

Total: $721

That is not my actual monthly budget, because I also spend money on things like cable internet, Netflix and Amazon Prime, some fun money, household items, car maintenance, and debt repayment. I'm lucky enough to live in a small town so it's a low COL area, but I also have no access to public transportation and drive 50 miles a day for work.

oldtoyota

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #17 on: June 17, 2014, 07:09:50 PM »
There are 3 of us, plus a stepdaughter on the weekends

mortgage: $820 (2,000 sq ft on 2 acres)
fuel: $100
water$20
electricity (includes ac, heat in winter, oven, etc everything's electric) $150
groceries: $400
restaurants: $35
phone: $10
life ins: $33
car insurance: $600 /yr
xmas and gifts: $1200 /yr (mostly for kids)

Wow. I am impressed.

oldtoyota

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #18 on: June 17, 2014, 07:10:45 PM »
Rent a house: $335
Gas (for home only): $0
Fuel (for cars): $160
Water: $0
Electricity: $0
Groceries: $150
Restaurants: $0
Phone: $16
Life Ins: $0 (Job covers $175k)
Car Ins: $40
Holidays like Xmas: $20 (gift average over a year)

Total: $721

That is not my actual monthly budget, because I also spend money on things like cable internet, Netflix and Amazon Prime, some fun money, household items, car maintenance, and debt repayment. I'm lucky enough to live in a small town so it's a low COL area, but I also have no access to public transportation and drive 50 miles a day for work.

Thanks! How do you have no water or electricity bill?

wtjbatman

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #19 on: June 17, 2014, 07:16:38 PM »
Rent a house: $335
Gas (for home only): $0
Fuel (for cars): $160
Water: $0
Electricity: $0
Groceries: $150
Restaurants: $0
Phone: $16
Life Ins: $0 (Job covers $175k)
Car Ins: $40
Holidays like Xmas: $20 (gift average over a year)

Total: $721

That is not my actual monthly budget, because I also spend money on things like cable internet, Netflix and Amazon Prime, some fun money, household items, car maintenance, and debt repayment. I'm lucky enough to live in a small town so it's a low COL area, but I also have no access to public transportation and drive 50 miles a day for work.

Thanks! How do you have no water or electricity bill?

Oh sorry, it's included in the house rent. We rent a 2 bedroom 1 bath single family home, fortunately we don't have to pay any of the utilities.

oldtoyota

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #20 on: June 17, 2014, 07:27:56 PM »
Rent a house: $335
Gas (for home only): $0
Fuel (for cars): $160
Water: $0
Electricity: $0
Groceries: $150
Restaurants: $0
Phone: $16
Life Ins: $0 (Job covers $175k)
Car Ins: $40
Holidays like Xmas: $20 (gift average over a year)

Total: $721

That is not my actual monthly budget, because I also spend money on things like cable internet, Netflix and Amazon Prime, some fun money, household items, car maintenance, and debt repayment. I'm lucky enough to live in a small town so it's a low COL area, but I also have no access to public transportation and drive 50 miles a day for work.

Thanks! How do you have no water or electricity bill?

Oh sorry, it's included in the house rent. We rent a 2 bedroom 1 bath single family home, fortunately we don't have to pay any of the utilities.

Wow. That is a good price for rent!

wtjbatman

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #21 on: June 17, 2014, 07:32:08 PM »
Wow. That is a good price for rent!

Small town living in the midwest has some advantages.

arebelspy

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #22 on: June 17, 2014, 07:39:08 PM »
Two adults, no kids, Las Vegas, NV.

Here is our 2011 Spending:
Quote
Monthly Average Spending 2011:
Housing (Mortgage + HOA): $462
Utilities (Electricity, Water/Sewage, Garbage): $51
Cell Phones: $48
Food: $309 (Groceries 231, Fast Food 29, Restaurants 49)
Student Loans: $266
Entertainment: $6
Travel: $263
Auto: $192
Shopping ("Stuff"): $143
Other/Misc (Financial, Health and Fitness, etc): $91

Total/mo: ~$1,831
Yearly budget: ~$22,000

Here is our 2012 Spending:
Quote
Monthly Average Spending 2012:
Housing (Mortgage + HOA): $492
Utilities (Electricity, Water/Sewage, Garbage): $44
Cell Phones: $89
Food: $264 (Groceries 227, Fast Food 16, Restaurants 21)
Student Loans: $195
Entertainment: $9
Travel: $31
Auto: $329
Shopping ("Stuff"): $62
Other/Misc (Financial, Insurance, Health and Fitness, Pets, etc): $224

Total/mo: ~$1,740
Yearly budget: ~$21,000

Here is our 2013 Spending:
Quote
Monthly Average Spending 2013:
Housing (Mortgage + HOA + Home Insurance + Property Taxes): $499
Utilities (Electricity, Water/Sewage, Garbage): $55
Cell Phones: $63
Food: $277 (203 Groceries, 33 Fast Food, 41 Restaurants)
Student Loans: $109
Travel: $55
Auto: $226
Shopping ("Stuff"): $74
Other/Misc (Financial, Insurance, Health and Fitness, Pets, etc): $200

Total/mo: ~$1,558
Yearly Total: ~$18,700

And a small quote cutting and pasting from another thread discussing this spending:
Here is our spending for the last 3 years (2 adults, Las Vegas area):
2011: ~$22,000
2012: ~$21,000
2013: ~$18,700

That includes our housing (mortgage, not rent) and student loans (both of which I technically could skip counting the principal part of those payments, and only count the interest, but I have included both the principal and interest amounts in the above figures).  Housing is about 6k/yr if you want to subtract that out and not count it to have an apples-to-apples comparison.

Additional income taxes paid above our withholdings (i.e. giant check we send to the IRS in in April) is not counted, though all other taxes (like property tax) are.

That counts lots of wasteful spending (we take vacations, have fancy electronics like iPads and laptops, unlimited iPhone plan, etc.) in there.  If we wanted to cut the fat, there's a lot we could trim.  But, as noted in the "frugal fatigue" thread, we spend as much as we want, whenever we want.

We did not mean to decrease our spending (actually were planning to increase it), it just happened, apparently (I was surprised when totaling the final numbers for 2013 a few weeks ago).

You may want to read that thread for more replies on low spending (which seems to be your question "what is possible?") - and then look at the ERE forum journals for really inspirational low spending to see what is possible.
« Last Edit: June 17, 2014, 07:57:34 PM by arebelspy »
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DollarBill

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #23 on: June 17, 2014, 07:49:15 PM »
This feels like Luke giving Yoda tips for jedi mind tricks...lol. I'm waiting for the Senior Mustachian trump card to be thrown in :)

(Just me)
House Taxes (Paid off)------$333
House Insurance-------------$70
Car Insurance----------------$53
Food (And all toiletries)-----$260
Phone-------------------------$53
Electric------------------------$75
Heating Gas------------------$60
Water-------------------------$40
Trash--------------------------$15
Net/Cable--------------------$103
Gas for car--------------------$60
Travel Fund------------------$100
Emergency Fund-------------$150
Fun money-------------------$300
Total--------------------------$1672

I feel comfortable at this level. I would like to find more cuts but I think it would get painful.

oldtoyota

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #24 on: June 17, 2014, 07:56:26 PM »
Thank you, Dollar Bill and Arebelspy!


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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #25 on: June 17, 2014, 08:24:23 PM »

Two adults, no kids

Mortgage -- paid off. Taxes $63 a month.
Gas (for home only) -- $0
Fuel (for cars) -- $150-$175 due to my long commute
Water -- $25
Electricity -- $150 fluctuates with the seasons, but this is the average
Groceries -- $250 includes household supplies, dog food, etc.
Restaurants -- $160 (yes, I know)
Phone -- $75
Life Ins-- $45 this is through our employers
Car Ins -- $70 for way too many very old vehicles
Holidays like Xmas -- $85


Sonorous Epithet

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #26 on: June 17, 2014, 08:36:53 PM »
I know I took a dump on your post's idea early in the thread but I suppose there's no harm in adding my (fairly unmustachian) numbers.

Rent (incl. water/sewer) - $463
Gas (for home only) ------- $55 on average - ($20-$100 seasonally)
Fuel (for cars) -------------- $50 (pre-bike commuting number)
Water ------------------------ $0  included in rent
Electricity -------------------- $60 on average - ($25-$150 seasonally)
Groceries -------------------- $350, includes toiletries, housewares, and other big-box type stuff.
Restaurants ---------------- $80, including fast food and cafeteria purchases at work
Phone ----------------------- $78 (pre-mustache -- downgrading in September)
Life Ins ---------------------- Free basic policy at work + $15/mo for supplemental life, AD&D, S/T disability, and L/T disability policies
Car Ins ---------------------- $65
Holidays like Xmas -------- $500-600 annually, like 80% of it goes to the significant other

wtjbatman

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #27 on: June 17, 2014, 09:06:44 PM »
I know I took a dump on your post's idea early in the thread but I suppose there's no harm in adding my (fairly unmustachian) numbers.

Rent (incl. water/sewer) - $463
Gas (for home only) ------- $55 on average - ($20-$100 seasonally)
Fuel (for cars) -------------- $50 (pre-bike commuting number)
Water ------------------------ $0  included in rent
Electricity -------------------- $60 on average - ($25-$150 seasonally)
Groceries -------------------- $350, includes toiletries, housewares, and other big-box type stuff.
Restaurants ---------------- $80, including fast food and cafeteria purchases at work
Phone ----------------------- $78 (pre-mustache -- downgrading in September)
Life Ins ---------------------- Free basic policy at work + $15/mo for supplemental life, AD&D, S/T disability, and L/T disability policies
Car Ins ---------------------- $65
Holidays like Xmas -------- $500-600 annually, like 80% of it goes to the significant other

Sorry, since you already poo-pooed (literally) the idea, your numbers aren't welcome in this thread. Consider them deleted from the great Mustachian spreadsheet that is these forums.

arebelspy

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #28 on: June 17, 2014, 09:09:11 PM »
I know I took a dump on your post's idea early in the thread but I suppose there's no harm in adding my (fairly unmustachian) numbers.

I 100% agreed with your post, and was going to write something similar, but based on the OP's response it made sense for the thread to continue.

But you're correct, IMO, that the numbers are fairly meaningless without context, and one should strive to optimize their own spending, not based on what other random people are doing.

So regardless of the fact that we all ended  ignoring it, thank you for posting it. :)
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DollarBill

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #29 on: June 17, 2014, 09:09:58 PM »
Mortgage -- paid off. Taxes $63 a month.

Rural, where do you live? I wish my taxes were that low. If I paid $7K to pay off my specials (It's a Kansas thing) or wait until 2019 my taxes will be down to $227 a month. I don't really want to stay here but wonder if it's worth staying or paying this. I could pay it and keep the house or move but paying closing cost and buying cost for a new place. Don't know what to do. Plus, Kansas won't tax my military pension when I get there.

Emilyngh

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #30 on: June 17, 2014, 09:33:38 PM »
Mortgage -- paid off. Taxes $63 a month.

Rural, where do you live? I wish my taxes were that low. If I paid $7K to pay off my specials (It's a Kansas thing) or wait until 2019 my taxes will be down to $227 a month. I don't really want to stay here but wonder if it's worth staying or paying this. I could pay it and keep the house or move but paying closing cost and buying cost for a new place. Don't know what to do. Plus, Kansas won't tax my military pension when I get there.

So, I'm not Rural and don't think I live near Rural (although I do live rurally)   But the taxes on my home, which is assessed at $180k by the county, are $80 a mo here in the Shenandoah Valley in Va (I just included them and the home owners as part of our $820 mortgage number).   
« Last Edit: June 17, 2014, 09:39:28 PM by Emilyngh »

oldtoyota

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #31 on: June 18, 2014, 06:13:56 AM »
I know I took a dump on your post's idea early in the thread but I suppose there's no harm in adding my (fairly unmustachian) numbers.

I 100% agreed with your post, and was going to write something similar, but based on the OP's response it made sense for the thread to continue.

But you're correct, IMO, that the numbers are fairly meaningless without context, and one should strive to optimize their own spending, not based on what other random people are doing.

So regardless of the fact that we all ended  ignoring it, thank you for posting it. :)

LOL. I disagree with you both. This has been very useful to me. I will write up a post as to what I have learned so far. Thank you both for your responses.

oldtoyota

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #32 on: June 18, 2014, 06:24:13 AM »
Thank you, everyone!

Contrary to what some said earlier, I have found the posts useful. We have one child. She is not costly. Whether you are a single parent with one kid, a couple with no kids or a family with many people, I found something to learn. I think one person replied from a fairly large family--either in this thread or the one ARS posted a link to--and had admirable costs, so there was something for me to learn there as well.

In reviewing my budget, I see that the mortgage was, in fact, more of a problem than I had thought. Originally, I said that our mortgage was cheap so I was not even thinking about it. However, I am now viewing the mortgage as the main issue. Funny how one can see things in a new way!

Some of you are truly inspiring in how little you spend at restaurants. While we have cut down a lot, I think we could do even better.

And, though I do budget, I tend to move money around. If we go over in one category, I may reduce another category. One person suggested I create a cap and then we buy no more when we reach that cap. That might be annoying to arrange with a spouse, yet I am willing to give it a try.

Many, many thanks!




hexdexorex

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Re: Budgeting: I am amazing--yet I am also terrible
« Reply #33 on: June 19, 2014, 09:25:19 AM »
This includes gf and I ....

Rent 1110 (bay area...cheapest we can get...500 sq ft studio)
Gas (for home only) 0 (included)
Fuel (for cars) 180 (im including her caltrain pass...and I live 10 minutes from work)
Water 0 (included)
Electricity 20 (winters are 30 summers are 10)
Groceries 120 (work provides dinner somenights)
Restaurants 70
Phone 40 (x2 tmobile family plan with 5 people)
Life Ins 0
Car Ins 56 (333/6....2 cars...no accidents..only 1 has collision)
Holidays like Xmas 200 (probably about 2400 a year spent on travel between the two of us...airfare/eating out etc)...for me this is becoming more and more taken care of with credit card miles
Internet 0 (borrow from neighbor)
« Last Edit: June 19, 2014, 09:32:12 AM by hexdexorex »