What a timely post - I just asked this same question on the following blog
http://www.getfiredasap.com/2016/07/15/reader-case-study-seeking-advice-for-a-financial-dilemma/we are family of 4 kids 7 and 3, home owners
yearly spends:
2013/2014 90000 - multiple small trips that cost more than you think
2014/2015 135000 - kitchen reno and big 6 week trip - what a shocker but we accept this was a complete blow out
2015/2016 65000 ( struggling to rein it in)
2015/2016 This year was to be our big no spend year - I thought we could do 50000 including travel. So 65000 was a bit of a disappointment. 50000 is what I thought we could do in retirement so disappointing we failed.
Cash 2500 - where does this go? gifts, groceries, school excursions, charity
Groceries 6000
Healthcare 1400
transport 2390 (petrol 1500, reg 570, ins 145, tyres 175)
house/garden maint 1200
rates 1700
utilities: 5000 water 2500, electricity 690, gas 140, internet 866
entertainment 1670 (alcohol 800, eating out 570, misc)
mobile phones 490
pets food 1200 (food 200 + pet minding 1000)
presents 800
insurance 7750 (health 4300, home/contents 1400, income protection 1700, life 350)
clothes/shoes 320
kids sports/kindy 2000
potentially deductible:
education 2100
professional reg fees/organisational fees 3000
accounting 1150
office/misc 1000
hopefully one offs:
medical procedure 7000
trip 4000
camping gear 2000
bikes 1200
home improvement 7000
As getfiredasap points out take away deductibles and potential one offs, we spend about 32000. This would be great but we always have one offs, they are just different things. Root canals, more home improvement (never ending), appliance replacement, travel that should be cheap but isn't. FIRE looks further away than ever.
Before I went through every line of the credit card and bank statement I was confident it was 50000 so I would doubt anyone who guesses what they spend. Very keen to hear from other Australians though as we seem to struggle to live as cheaply as those in the US.