For the year, we spent $43,252. $3,252 over the goal of 40k, but less than 2018’s $44,167. New furniture ($1250), medical expenses ($884), and picking up a new hobby ($1,160) put us over, but also not cutting back enough in other areas to absorb those expenses. At least there was no creep upwards and our raises/bonuses all went to savings!
I was happy that general shopping (if you minus the new furniture) and travel was way down from 2018, even with the new hobby expenses. But groceries and “other” went up. Most of the “other” increase was from medical, class pass, and cc fees for travel hacking. Also disappointed in not further reducing the eating and drinking out expenses.
My main takeaway from the year of tracking expenses is just how much goes to entertainment and extra non-necessities. I don’t really regret too much of the expenditures, but feel more self-aware. I feel like we’re trying to cut down on those things until I see all the black and white numbers showing we’re not. Goal is to keep trying to creep down to 40k in expenses in 2020.
2018 vs 2019
Rent: $20,726 | $20,311
Groceries & Personal Care: $5,777 | $6,508
Travel: $7,078 | $4,929
Shopping: $4,413 | $4,471 (incl $643 cat food & litter, $1250 new furniture)
Eating & Drinking Out: $2,843 | $2,635
Internet, Phone, & Electric: $1,241 | $1,122
Other: $2,089 | $3,642 (incl medical, gifts, subscriptions, entertainment, cc fees)
December - $3,707 or $374 over budget for the month.
Rent: $1675
Groceries & Personal Care: $624
Travel: $106 - $106 train tickets to in-laws
Shopping: -$124 - $82.93 cat food & litter - 207.39 things sold
Eating & Drinking Out: $243 - $76.80 dinner w/friend; $152.36 drinks & dinner w/friends; $3.54 work coffee; $10.41 work lunch
Internet, Phone, & Electric: $231 - $29.83 electric; $201.64 DH cell plan (annual)
Other: $952 - $14.99 HBO; $14.16 Netflix; $0.99 kindle unlimited; $11 shipping; $12.77 shipping; $279.40 bar dues (prof license); $325 doctor; $40 labs; $100 condo staff holiday fund; $40 work housekeeping holiday fund; $35 kid Xmas gift; $50 mom bday gift; $21 eBay seller fees; $7.35 shipping
January: $2951 | February: $3549 | March: $3394 | April: $2944| May: $3278| June: $4246 | July: $4322 | August: $4163 | September: $3082 | October: $3350 | November: $4266 | December: $3707