@little_owl: I do have mint, and have been using it since I discovered it in March to track spending.
To address the lunches, that's $50 spent on groceries to feed me lunch for the month. I go and buy some sale items, and occasionally splurge on the $5 sushi tray on 1/2 price Mondays.
My net savings per month looks to be about $1400 / month. Mint is hard to trust in this area because I have large withdrawls (buy car/motorcycle/house) and then a larger deposit a few months after(selling same item).
I was a late starter, having only graduated from college (debt free!) in 2011. I didn't really start my "real" job until late 2011, so the majority of this has been built since then.
Physical health is something that should be addressed, regardless of the financial cost. Chicken breast, vegetables, etc, all much healthier than the frozen meals, canned soup, etc that I sometimes have.
@lazysundays: As part of the agreement between my roommate and I, he gets a deal renting the empty room on my side of the duplex that I own, in exchange for paying the utilities. I would sweat it out in summer, and wear a hat in winter, while he likes it 70* no matter the conditions outside. I'm not complaining, I just am not willing to pay for it. I throw him a few dollars if I've been unusually un-thrifty with the lights.
car maint: I do my own work. If the $2000 car I own has a major issue, it is not worth repairing. I plan to sell it for $3500 when I have touched up the small details (paint chips, blown speakers, etc).
home maint: Again, I do my own here. In the 6 months of owning the duplex, total repair bill has been $12, for tools and replacement toilet float. A lateral drain clogged, but was covered under the water backup portion of insurance. I remedied the situation and pocketed the difference.
Xmas fund: Only 3 people to buy for. I am not a huge gifter like my ex. She would spend over $1500. I purchase or make simple things. This year, Dad may get a fine bottle of scotch, and the GF will get something reasonable. Price does not make nice.
There is plenty of cash set aside. Probably too much. I am looking at how to allocate an additional $15,000 from savings into investments this quarter.
@GRSConstruction:
Groceries are probably $50/ month. I just bought food for lunch at work for this month and it was $32. Since I cook for my GF most nights, I rarely purchase food for home.
Water: I have not received a water bill for this quarter at my duplex yet, so am not sure what that will be. According to previous owner, I can expect it to average around $40/month.
Cell: My cellphone is paid for in full thru the end of the contract, and at the time of that posting, internet hadn't been installed. Time Warner came by, and it's $48/month, but the neighbor downstairs has it, and I have offered her $10/month to use her wireless.
@hexdexorex: That is a high estimate. When I had a new truck, it was a little less than 100 / month, but now that I also have a motorcycle and an old car, I would say it is still around that. The benefits of living in a large metro area.
Div stocks: I've been focusing on these as it I have an ETF that returns around 11% in dividends, and still has growth. I've owned it a few months now, and the growth profit has already eclipsed the dividend payments. I am looking into options, growth stock, market indexes, and more multi-family housing as avenues to put the money to work.
I think I know how to save; But leaving it in an account to rot is not an option for me, I need it to work for me(seeking investments). I don't feel that I'm wasteful or careless with what I earn. Surely there are opportunities for saving a pinch here and there, but not thousands. If there's any holes to be poked in my spending or investments, I want to hear them.