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01-07-2013, 10:01 AM
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#221
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,201
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Probably too late, but we didn't finalize expenses until this weekend. I don't show taxes, and I notice that some members may not account for their major unusual expenses (new cars, home renov & repairs, appliance/furniture repl, etc.) - the latter is substantial for us.
Food | $7,355 | Groceries, wine & liq, sundries | Entertainment | $6,736 | Dining, Internet, TV, Movies/plays/concerts | Home | $4,602 | Insur, Lawncare, Prop Tax, HOA | Vacation | $4,097 | incl bereavement travel 2012 | Allowance | $3,980 | Pocket money | Auto | $3,672 | Lic & Regis, Gas, Insur, Maint | Utilities | $3,566 | Gas, Elec, Phone, Water, Sewer, Trash | Personal | $3,459 | Clothes, Hair & Nails, Other | Other | $2,880 | Dog, Gifts, Medical, Misc | Charity | $1,424 | | Sub Total | $41,771 | despite variances, total variance $384!!! | | | | Unusual | $23,957 | New car, MIL expenses | Total | $65,728 | |
__________________
No one agrees with other people's opinions; they merely agree with their own opinions -- expressed by somebody else. Sydney Tremayne
Retired Jun 2011 at age 57
Target AA: 50% equity funds / 45% bonds / 5% cash
Target WR: Approx 1.5% Approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
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01-07-2013, 11:14 AM
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#222
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,472
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Here are my final spending totals for 2012. Income taxes are not included but everything else is.
Groceries | $2,522.47 | Includes toiletries, detergent, etc. | Restaurants | $3,200.24 | lunch every day plus some dinners | Gasoline | $972.96 | I live in an inner suburb, and everything is close by. | Car | $1,499.96 | insurance, maintenance (safety inspection is in "misc") | House | $5,881.48 | insurance (homeowners' and flood), property tax, maintenance (no upgrades in 2012) | Utilities | $4,512.66 | Cable TV,internet, nat. gas, electricity, water, trash, sewage, cell, landline | Fitness | $581.60 | gym fees, heart rate monitor | Clothes | $154.74 | sweatpants, t-shirts, "retiree wear" | Miscellaneous | $2,817.82 | Gifts, Hurricane Isaac evacuation, haircuts, iPad, stamps, etc. | Books | $40.94 | e-books, mostly free or cheap | Video Games, apps | $749.57 | also includes two video game consoles | Medical | $1,694.75 | dentist, bone graft, deductibles, co-pays, prescriptions | Health insurance | $2,226.80 | federal retiree health insurance | Total | $26,855.99 | plus income tax |
This year, for the first year of my life I kept records not to the dollar, but to the penny. Also I doublechecked by computing my spending from income/withdrawals only and it matches. Maybe that was a little OCD but it was fun to try doing it.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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01-07-2013, 11:42 AM
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#223
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,342
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Quote:
Originally Posted by W2R
Here are my final spending totals for 2012. Income taxes are not included but everything else is.
Groceries | $2,522.47 | Includes toiletries, detergent, etc. | Restaurants | $3,200.24 | lunch every day plus some dinners | Gasoline | $972.96 | I live in an inner suburb, and everything is close by. | Car | $1,499.96 | insurance, maintenance (safety inspection is in "misc") | House | $5,881.48 | insurance (homeowners' and flood), property tax, maintenance (no upgrades in 2012) | Utilities | $4,512.66 | Cable TV,internet, nat. gas, electricity, water, trash, sewage, cell, landline | Fitness | $581.60 | gym fees, heart rate monitor | Clothes | $154.74 | sweatpants, t-shirts, "retiree wear" | Miscellaneous | $2,817.82 | Gifts, Hurricane Isaac evacuation, haircuts, iPad, stamps, etc. | Books | $40.94 | e-books, mostly free or cheap | Video Games, apps | $749.57 | also includes two video game consoles | Medical | $1,694.75 | dentist, bone graft, deductibles, co-pays, prescriptions | Health insurance | $2,226.80 | federal retiree health insurance | Total | $26,855.99 | plus income tax |
This year, for the first year of my life I kept records not to the dollar, but to the penny. Also I doublechecked by computing my spending from income/withdrawals only and it matches. Maybe that was a little OCD but it was fun to try doing it.
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Looks like you're doing 'better'. There's a little more "fluff" in your spending which you can easily afford. I wouldn't have pegged you as a gamer. Interesting.
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01-07-2013, 11:49 AM
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#224
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,596
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawn
Since you asked, attached is a recent picture of my cat sitting on top of the above mentioned fence, and another recent picture of her in the back yard.
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Love the pictures! In my next life, I want to be a cat with a companion like you
__________________
I purr therefore I am.
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01-07-2013, 12:01 PM
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#225
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,472
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aaronc879
Looks like you're doing 'better'. There's a little more "fluff" in your spending which you can easily afford. I wouldn't have pegged you as a gamer. Interesting.
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You noticed! Spending more money on them was my intention. I have never had a hobby before, and I decided that this is my hobby so I should spend more on it. I have been playing video games since the 1980's, but previously never had the time or money to play as much as I have lately.
I play peaceful, happy, stress-relieving games like "Animal Crossing", "Harvest Moon", and in the past two months I have completed the entire "Professor Layton" series.
I don't like the ones with a lot of killing or stress that some people like.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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01-23-2013, 12:19 PM
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#226
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Confused about dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 8
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Single, living in suburbs of a large US city with another adult, sharing expenses 50/50.
2012 yearly expenses (for 1 person):
Food: $3053 (254/month), including $1810 in / $1243 out
All housing related: $4277 (356/month), including (numbers below are rounded to nearest 10):
- property taxes: 4340
- hired services: lawn mowing, snow removal: 410
- other hired services: 370 (pest control, AC/furnace cleaning, gutter cleaning)
- house insurance: 510
- utilities:
--- primary phone and internet - $0 (paid by employer ~100/month)
--- second / backup phone: 180
--- TV cable: 590
--- water/sewer: 490
--- electricity: 710
--- gas: 930
- Home Depot purchases: 30
Total is 8560 (so 4280/person)
All car related: $880 (or 73/month), including
- car insurance: 287
- gas: 277 (working from home)
- maintenance / registration fees: 316
Entertainment: $827
Trips: $900
Gifts: $336
Medical: $14
All other: $328 (clothes, haircuts, misc other).
2012 subtotal (regular): $10,615 / year
One time expenses: $1960
2012 total: $12,575 / year
Does NOT include depreciation for car, house, furniture, etc.
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01-23-2013, 12:42 PM
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#227
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: May 2011
Location: St. Paul
Posts: 1,847
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My New Year's goal was to start tracking my expenses "to the penny." Still awhile from retirement, but wanted to start this habit. This thread is very helpful: I like seeing how people define expense categories.
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01-23-2013, 12:49 PM
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#228
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: North TX
Posts: 1,799
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So here's a bit about us.
We're 42 & 48
1 car (now for a year) ride bike and bus to w*rk
Tried a test run for FIRE for 8 months and returned to LA in May 2012 to see if we "missed it". Don't! Running back to Mexico in April...
Here in LA, we're averaging $4k / month on a very modest living for everything. This is almost impossible for a couple in a nice part of town (Woodland Hills). We lucked out on a place to live, furnished for $1,500 / mo...
In Mexico, we averaged $2k before & anticipate $2,500 / month for a nice lifestyle. This includes all living, major medical in the US and occasional visit back or nice local vacation in the hood of Belize...
Our savings is modest by most of you guys / gals, but we just hope / expect that our overall balance stays steady over time.
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01-23-2013, 01:01 PM
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#229
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
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What people spend is all over the map. Some spend so much less than I do, but then sometimes it's because I am retired and have no health benefits, other times it's due to my own choice. I'll just pick two common categories from this poster.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoodLife
All car related: $880 (or 73/month), including
- car insurance: 287
- gas: 277 (working from home)
- maintenance: 316
Medical: $14
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According to Quicken, I paid $4208 for vehicle cost in the last 12 months. Four vehicles: two cars, one motorhome and a toad. No car payments. The newest vehicle is 2003, hence all licensing fees which are value-based are fairly low. My state charges 1.7% of the value of the vehicle at 1st year, then depreciates 16.25% each year. The MH ends up costing the most due to its higher initial value.
Note that gas expenses for the motorhome are not included, as they dwarf the above cost, and are classified under Travel category.
Also note that I do nearly all vehicle maintenance work myself. Have 5 floorjacks in my garage! I could still reduce the vehicle cost above; it was my choice to spend that, and much of it was discretionary.
Medical costs: $9064 for the last 12 months. That does not include the $10K annual deductible that we met this last year, as the coverage still included my young adult son, who was hospitalized for more than 1 week in 2012. That $10K was paid out of an HSA, which was maintained separately.
Yes, early retirement can be expensive, both for costs incurred due to not having benefits from workplace, and also for discretionary spending.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marita40
My New Year's goal was to start tracking my expenses "to the penny." Still awhile from retirement, but wanted to start this habit. This thread is very helpful: I like seeing how people define expense categories.
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No need to count to the penny, though Quicken does that for me.
When I call up the summary, it rounds everything to the dollar.
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01-23-2013, 01:06 PM
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#230
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: North TX
Posts: 1,799
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I like this format, so I stole it and put mine in...Living in Los Angeles
$00,400 Dog misc
$18,000 Rent (furnished 2br/2ba)
$02,640 Charity
$01,800 Utilities (Gas/Elec, Water, Phone, Trash, TV, Internet)
$09,600 Food / eating out
$01,200 Auto Insurance
$03,000 DW Health Insurance
$00,500 Auto Repair
$02,500 Auto Gas / bus passes
$00,450 Bicycle
$07,910 Misc (clothes, entertainment, recreation, doctor, dentist, gifts, ...)
Total: $48,000
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01-23-2013, 03:52 PM
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#231
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 1,563
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aaronc879
Looks like you're doing 'better'. There's a little more "fluff" in your spending which you can easily afford. I wouldn't have pegged you as a gamer. Interesting.
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I was shocked W2R was a gamer too. I did not see that coming.
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01-23-2013, 04:01 PM
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#232
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,499
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When DH's COBRA ran out a couple of years ago, he had to buy insurance with guaranteed underwriting because of a pre-existing condition. Expensive. I was able to shop around a bit, bought an HDHP with an HSA, but still got upcharged 10% because I said I have arthritis in the base of both thumbs that flares up from time to time, which I 'fix' with a couple of ibuprofen.
Our current monthly cost for HI: $1273 and some change. DH figures that's about 25% of our monthly expenditure.
DH's premium has stayed the same, but mine has gone up 3 times in the past 2 years.
We are glad to have HI but look forward to seeing what ACA will offer in the way of more choices for DH.
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01-23-2013, 04:05 PM
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#233
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rec7
I was shocked W2R was a gamer too. I did not see that coming.
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There were at least two other female posters who were very conversant about high-performance PCs, because they needed them for gaming.
I remember their posts, because I did not expect it. I do not know of any female gamers, middle-aged ones at that, among my circle of relatives and acquaintances.
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01-23-2013, 04:54 PM
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#234
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,472
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NW-Bound
There were at least two other female posters who were very conversant about high-performance PCs, because they needed them for gaming.
I remember their posts, because I did not expect it. I do not know of any female gamers, middle-aged ones at that, among my circle of relatives and acquaintances.
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Maybe they just don't tell you?
There are a lot of games out there that are not ultra-violent, and are especially appealing to some of us. Now that I am retired, I have the time and money to enjoy playing them.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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01-23-2013, 05:51 PM
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#235
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
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It's possible, but unlikely, as a few of my female relatives have plenty of trouble just using a PC for email. Yes, I also know not all games are violent. Still, the gamers in my extended family are all younger males generally under 40, like my son and his cousins, hence my stereotype.
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01-23-2013, 05:54 PM
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#236
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 628
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We just went through our 2012 budget.
$7200 Groceries
3600 Utilities
3200 House taxes and insurance
1500 Vehicle ins.
7000 med expenses not covered by ins.
6000 other
______________________________________
$28500 Approx total
We are a couple, no debt, house paid, health insurance paid by employer, cheap area to live. The budget pinches, lately.
Next year will be different. DW has just been notified that she is being laid off. Today we discussed our future plans. We are in line for $72500 retirement spending. RMDs will hit, so might as well spend some more, before they hit, and keep taxes lower. $72500 is the sweet spot in taxes (the top amount for 15% Fed taxes).
Two more years...
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01-23-2013, 06:32 PM
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#237
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,089
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We are not retired yet. We are a family of 4.
2011 -- We spent 38% of take home pay (not counting tax and HI)
2012 -- We spent 37% of take home pay (not counting tax and HI)
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01-23-2013, 07:08 PM
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#238
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Madeira Beach Fl
Posts: 1,403
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Our 2014 budget for RE will be $68K, and $20K of that is budgeted for health care of which I am hoping we will not use all of it. We are both 57, DW is on SSDI and I am in what I hope to be my last year at Megacorp.
__________________
_______________________________________________
"A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do" --Bob Dylan.
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01-23-2013, 07:31 PM
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#239
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 26
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I really like that approach, fh2000! Blatantly stealing your format (but including taxes):
2009 -- We spent 61% of income.
2010 -- We spent 68% of income.
2011 -- We spent 53% of income.
2012 -- We spent 49% of income.
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