2011 Expense Categories and Amounts

[haha]

Here is my after-tax spending record for 2011. I just used the first 11 months x 12/11, which may slight entertaniment a bit, but should be close.

IMO I spend too much on necessities, and not enough on fun, but I guess that is what happens when you retire. So, monthly, I spent

Food-- 475

Medical 462

Auto 158

Entertainment 175

All utils 254

Housing 1225

Clothes 42

Misc 67

Stuff 71

Inv Exp 26

No depreciation or sinking fund or pro forma finance charge on the car. Just cash operating exp. Utilities include cell and everything else. Misc is mosly service; stuff is things with a physical presence. Inv exp is the occasional book or subscription. In USD.

Ha

 

[W2R]

Interesting, thanks.

Edited to add: never mind, you answered the questions that I had in your post above, so I deleted them from this post. Oops!

I lump my Misc (example, haircuts?) and Stuff (example, anything from Best Buy) together. I have a category called "books". I don't subscribe to magazines, but if I did I'd put that in my "books" category, so I guess it is like your Inv Exp category.

I'd put my numbers here but they are on my computer at home, and I am posting from F.'s house right now.

I have separate categories for car insurance and house insurance. I would imagine that yours are included in the car and house categories.

IIRC, your expenses have gone way down since last year. Congratulations on that!

 

[RioIndy]

For comparison sake to a 25 yo, your Auto and Misc are lower than mine. But your housing/utilities is way higher than mine, food is a bit higher, and I don't have any significant medical expenses.

I figure though that by the time I retire my housing and food expenses will go up as I allow my self to increase the quality of those aspects of my life.

 

[JmfromTx]

My brain is not wired to track individual expenses. However, since I retired I have been keeping a spreadsheet for my total expenses each month. It has been very enlightening to me. If I had started doing it a few years before I retired it would have saved me a lot of headache when I was doing my planning.

 

[W2R]

Looking at my expenses here at home, and comparing, I think you are doing especially well with utilities (assuming you included TV/internet), Misc, and Stuff. That seems consistent with your assessment that you aren't spending much on fun. Necessities like housing and medical are higher for you and those are no fun.

Over all, looks pretty good, Haha.

F. has been recording every penny (literally) that he spends during this entire year. He says it is very enlightening. I have tracked my spending before, but only in categories and haven't separated every expenditure out in that amount of detail yet.

 

[Mulligan]

We spend pretty similar amounts each month. You spend about $700 more a month in health and house, but I catch back up to you by having child support, and a little more in utilities and entertainment.

 

[haha]

We spend pretty similar amounts each month. You spend about $700 more a month in health and house, but I catch back up to you by having child support, and a little more in utilities and entertainment.

My health expenditures are almost entirely insurance. This will drop in 2012, by about $90/ month as I now have a cheaper but equal type F medicare supplement. Also my Medicare part b will drop by $ 15 or so each month. If I buy a book that to help me understand some health related thing, I also charge that off to medical. It certainly is not entertainment!

Ha

 

[aaronc879]

2011 expenses per month thru end of november:

Electric: 101
Condo fee/tax/ins.:206
Cable/int/cell:166
Car-gas/maint./ins:116
Groceries:202
Enter./misc.:101
Vacation:98

Total:990/mo

My budget is $1000/mo. Looks like i'll make it under $12K again for the year. Last year was $11,974. I'm single, in a low cost area, with a paid off home(condo). In 2012 i'm going to need to get some dental work done that i've been putting off. Probably a root canal and crown totaling $1500 or more. I've been eating only on the left side of my mouth for a couple months. I'll have to not take a vacation and maybe cancel or downgrade my cable to stay under $12K for a 3rd straight year.

 

[haha]

2011 expenses per month thru end of november:

Electric: 101
Condo fee/tax/ins.:206
Cable/int/cell:166
Car-gas/maint./ins:116
Groceries:202
Enter./misc.:101
Vacation:98

Total:990/mo

My budget is $1000/mo. Looks like i'll make it under $12K again for the year. Last year was $11,974. I'm single, in a low cost area, with a paid off home(condo). In 2012 i'm going to need to get some dental work done that i've been putting off. Probably a root canal and crown totaling $1500 or more. I've been eating only on the left side of my mouth for a couple months. I'll have to not take a vacation and maybe cancel or downgrade my cable to stay under $12K for a 3rd straight year.

This is outstanding. Even after I drop rent in favor of my fully paid condo, I think my expenses will be > twice yours. It is more expensive here, maybe for almsot everything other than electricity which is very cheap. I guess you health insurance is covered at your job?

Ha

 

[aaronc879]

This is outstanding. Even after I drop rent in favor of my fully paid condo, I think my expenses will be > twice yours. It is more expensive here, maybe for almsot everything other than electricity which is very cheap. I guess you health insurance is covered at your job?

Ha

My health insurance WAS covered by my job until I lost my job in August. I've been meaning to get insurance but am procrastinating. Unless i'm dying, I don't go to the hospital anyway. Maybe i'll just self-insure?

 

[Mulligan]

2011 expenses per month thru end of november:

Electric: 101
Condo fee/tax/ins.:206
Cable/int/cell:166
Car-gas/maint./ins:116
Groceries:202
Enter./misc.:101
Vacation:98

Total:990/mo

My budget is $1000/mo. Looks like i'll make it under $12K again for the year. Last year was $11,974. I'm single, in a low cost area, with a paid off home(condo). In 2012 i'm going to need to get some dental work done that i've been putting off. Probably a root canal and crown totaling $1500 or more. I've been eating only on the left side of my mouth for a couple months. I'll have to not take a vacation and maybe cancel or downgrade my cable to stay under $12K for a 3rd straight year.

Im single and spend $400 a month on food and that doesnt include eating out which goes to entertainment. You have to be really skinny or very efficient with your food preparation to stay at $200! I feel for you on the eating on the side of your mouth. I did it for two months until I got my wisdom tooth pulled. Spent two months cowering in fear over a 10 second experience. I now need to reapply to get my man card back.

 

[aaronc879]

Im single and spend $400 a month on food and that doesnt include eating out which goes to entertainment. You have to be really skinny or very efficient with your food preparation to stay at $200! I feel for you on the eating on the side of your mouth. I did it for two months until I got my wisdom tooth pulled. Spent two months cowering in fear over a 10 second experience. I now need to reapply to get my man card back.

I actually feel bad about spending so much on food. I eat only processed, pre-packaged food. I should be able to spend less but I don't cook. If I go to a fast-food place by myself then that counts as groceries. If I go to a restaurant with other people, that's entertainment.

 

[aaronc879]

Im single and spend $400 a month on food and that doesnt include eating out which goes to entertainment. You have to be really skinny or very efficient with your food preparation to stay at $200!

I eat more than enough at $200/mo. I figure I average 2500-3500 calories per day with the occasional 4000+ day. Depending on which site I look at, I need to take in 2200-2800 calories per day to maintain my weight. So I could be eating less. If you're overweight you may want to "count calories" for a while to see if you should be cutting back. $400/mo seems like a lot for one person for food unless you're an athlete requiring 5000+ calories or maybe it just includes a few bottles of nice wine which I never buy.

 

[Mulligan]

I eat more than enough at $200/mo. I figure I average 2500-3500 calories per day with the occasional 4000+ day. Depending on which site I look at, I need to take in 2200-2800 calories per day to maintain my weight. So I could be eating less. If you're overweight you may want to "count calories" for a while to see if you should be cutting back. $400/mo seems like a lot for one person for food unless you're an athlete requiring 5000+ calories or maybe it just includes a few bottles of nice wine which I never buy.

We eat about same amount and I am 6'1 weigh 175, so Im considered thin, but my vices of weekly purchases of 12 packs of diet soda, dunkin donuts coffee $9 a bag twice a month, and bottled water add up quickly, and maybe you dont blow money there like I do. That probably alone adds up more than I think.

 

[aaronc879]

We eat about same amount and I am 6'1 weigh 175, so Im considered thin, but my vices of weekly purchases of 12 packs of diet soda, dunkin donuts coffee $9 a bag twice a month, and bottled water add up quickly, and maybe you dont blow money there like I do. That probably alone adds up more than I think.

6'1" 175lbs isn't actually thin but it's a good weight. It's at the high end of the optimal BMI range which is 18.5-24.5. You're at 23.15.

I usually only drink 1 soda per day sometimes 2. I drink water but I go to a natural spring once or twice a year and get approx. 20 gallons of water each time for free. It's not really free since it costs about $15 for gas but it's still much less than bottled water and at least as good of quality. I have never drank coffee before.

 

[Mulligan]

6'1" 175lbs isn't actually thin but it's a good weight. It's at the high end of the optimal BMI range which is 18.5-24.5. You're at 23.15.

I usually only drink 1 soda per day sometimes 2. I drink water but I go to a natural spring once or twice a year and get approx. 20 gallons of water each time for free. It's not really free since it costs about $15 for gas but it's still much less than bottled water and at least as good of quality. I have never drank coffee before.

The BMI's Im always a bit suspicious of as my body fat is 9% . Its been at the high end like you mentioned yet people call me skinny. I will have to examine what buy ( I go to Super Walmart, so Im not buying at a high end store). I have always just bought and called it my budget. Maybe I can shave a hundred without sacrificing much!

 

[haha]

We eat about same amount and I am 6'1 weigh 175, so Im considered thin, but my vices of weekly purchases of 12 packs of diet soda, dunkin donuts coffee $9 a bag twice a month, and bottled water add up quickly, and maybe you dont blow money there like I do. That probably alone adds up more than I think.

My food is $475/mo, and it includes cheap Trader Joe wine and an occasional bottle of champagne to take to GFs. Very little pop, but I do include meals out that I eat just because I am too hungry to get home. My cutoff for this is $10- above that it must be entertainment! Ordinarily if I do this it is <$5.

My food costs a little more than some, but I do try to be thrifty. I think the main budget breaker is I only eat good fish. Occasionally I get frozen fish at Trader Joe, which is usually => $5. But fresh fish where I like to buy it is usually $9+/#. Still, I figure I won't live forever and somebody is going to eat this good fish and it might as well be me. I think I eat fish 6 or 7 times a week (sometimes lunch). A lot of that is very good Alaskan canned sockeye that I buy in Bellingham. I go through 3 cases of 24 cans each year. I think it comes in at about $6/#. I have two ways of fixing it- patties, with onions, green pepper, egg, etc- and more often, salmon salad.

Ha

 

[Mulligan]

My food is $475/mo, and it includes cheap Trader Joe wine and an occasional bottle of champagne to take to GFs. Very little pop, but I do include meals out that I eat just because I am too hungry to get home. My cutoff for this is $10- above that it must be entertainment! Ordinarily if I do this it is <$5.

My food costs a little more than some, but I do try to be thrifty. I think the main budget breaker is I only eat good fish. Occasionally I get frozen fish at Trader Joe, which is usually => $5. But fresh fish where I like to buy it is usually $9+/#. Still, I figure I won't live forever and somebody is going to eat this good fish and it might as well be me. I think I eat fish 6 or 7 times a week (sometimes lunch). A lot of that is very good Alaskan canned sockeye that I buy in Bellingham. I go through 3 cases of 24 cans each year. I think it comes in at about $6/#. I have two ways of fixing it- patties, with onions, green pepper, egg, etc- and more often, salmon salad.

Ha

You eat a lot ofmfish, HA! I wish I could eat fish, but mentally I just cant. Been taking fish oil for a year, hoping it lowers my cholesterial levels which were fine, but just wanting better. Going to test it next month. Eating out with my GF makes cheap entertainment as she always insists for paying her half. Although I have to split the price of a Reisling that I wouldnt normally have as that is a must for her when we eat out.

 

[SecondCor521]

Here are my monthly averages for the first 11 months of this year:

Taxes: 2,082.76
Kids: 1,208.82
Interest Expense: 621.53
Recreation: 444.87
Food: 362.55
Utilities: 234.36
Medical: 232.46
Insurance: 224.19
Auto: 181.26
House: 94.16
Clothing: 23.68
Charity: 23.64

plus about $11.04 per month in another six small categories.

Kids category includes child support and anything else I spend on them directly.
Interest expense is mortgage interest.
Recreation includes a one week RV trip to Olympic National Park this summer with one of my children. (Hawaii and Spain are next year.)
Food includes both groceries and eating out for me and the kids.
Medical is mostly the kids' orthodontics and an ER visit for a sprained ankle.

2Cor521

 

[haha]

You eat a lot ofmfish, HA! I wish I could eat fish, but mentally I just cant. Been taking fish oil for a year, hoping it lowers my cholesterial levels which were fine, but just wanting better. Going to test it next month. Eating out with my GF makes cheap entertainment as she always insists for paying her half. Although I have to split the price of a Reisling that I wouldnt normally have as that is a must for her when we eat out.

Nice date. At my age group, I think I am expected to buy dinners out or happy hours. Anyway, this suits me as she makes many good dinners at her place, and she has an excellent TV and she records NFL and the college games that I want to see. She could get lots of other guys to take her places, and some places a cut above where I am likely to offer, so I have no intention of rocking the boat.

About fish, I have always loved it. And I've lived in Seaport towns and cities for over 50 years, so I could indulge my love. I used to catch the big Pacific octopus, dive for sea urchins for the eggs (now a great delicacy in the US for sashimi, though it has been so forever in Japan).

Ha

 

[arebelspy]

Ooh, a you show me yours thread. Those are always fun.

Here's mine. It's the household total for two people, mid-20s, in Las Vegas. We're frugal in some areas (like housing) and spend what we feel like in others.

Mint made it easy to break down the 2011 averages by category.

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: $264
Travel: $263
Auto: $192
Shopping ("Stuff"): $143
Other/Misc (Financial, Health and Fitness, etc): $91

Total/mo: ~2100
Yearly budget: ~25,000

In utilities, we have no cable or internet bill (internet is through tethering included in cell plans).
Auto we have no car payments, it's all gas, registration, insurance, and service/repairs.
I didn't include taxes.

Expecting budget to double(ish) in a few years when we have kids. For now, saving all that we can (we're both teachers, so our W2 income sadly isn't terrific).

It would be useful if people posted the area of the country, though obviously only if you're comfortable sharing. Nord's expenses will obviously differ due to geography from, say, W2R's.

And if you would be so kind as to total up your monthly budget so we don't have to add all the categories.

Thanks for starting the thread Ha.

 

[accountingsucks]

At bottom of post are my averages for the year. House maintenance is high as I replaced roof and flooring this year. For the last few years I spent virtually nothing on maintenance.

Also auto expenses this year are high due to $2000 repair bill. Otherwise it is paid for - car insurance is included in insurance amount.

This year as you can see I am spending more eating out than groceries - yikes, gotta correct that.

My goal is to keep my recurring expenses under 20K per year. I define everything below as recurring except for vacations and home maintenance as I have discretion as to when I have to spend in those categories (although home maintenance eventually has to be done).

This year I'm on track to spend 33.5k but when I eliminate the vacation and home expenses it is around the 20K goal I have.

I am single mid 30's in Canada and mortgage paid off

House Maint.863
Car 317
Eating out 230
Property Taxes 229
Utilities 228
Groceries&toiletries 213
Vacation 199
Insurance 134
Cable/net 127
Entertainment 116
Gifts and charity 80
Phone 37
Clothing/drycleang 13
Hobbies 9

 

[l2ridehd]

These are the categories I track and seems everything fits someplace.

Auto, gas, maintenance, registration
Auto Insurance
Charity
Clothing
Communication, Internet, cable, cell
Contingency Fund
Entertainment
Food
Home Insurance
Housing
Investment exp
Medical
Miscellaneous
Other Insurance, LTC, Term
Taxes
Utilities
Vacation

 

[accountingsucks]

2011 expenses per month thru end of november:

Electric: 101
Condo fee/tax/ins.:206
Cable/int/cell:166
Car-gas/maint./ins:116
Groceries:202
Enter./misc.:101
Vacation:98

Total:990/mo

My budget is $1000/mo. Looks like i'll make it under $12K again for the year. Last year was $11,974. I'm single, in a low cost area, with a paid off home(condo). In 2012 i'm going to need to get some dental work done that i've been putting off. Probably a root canal and crown totaling $1500 or more. I've been eating only on the left side of my mouth for a couple months. I'll have to not take a vacation and maybe cancel or downgrade my cable to stay under $12K for a 3rd straight year.

I posted mine later and I try to stick under 20K for recurring expenses. People tell me I'm cheap, errr I mean frugal but you got nothing on me. Earlier today at work I looked to see what my rock bottom number would be and it would be around 15 to 16K. I'd have to eat out less, go out less, cut cable and a whole bunch of stuff I'd rather not do. There is no way I could get to around $1000 per month though. My hats off to you.

 

[Midpack]

We are two of the most frugal people I know (in most categories...) and we live in a pretty low cost area, but I can't begin to match this crowd. I guess you're all Jacob's by comparison...

Category	per Mo
Allowance	$335
Cars	$575	no car payments
Dog	$133	worth every penny
Entertainment	$492
Groceries	$510
Home	$453	Prop tax & insur, no mortgage!!!
Medical	$225	DW still has employer coverage
Utilities	$325
Operating	$3809
Accrual Exp	$800	new bed-house repainted-bath remodel
Total	$4609