Another "what do you spend" thread....for singles this time

[accountingsucks]

There have been plenty of threads about monthly spending, but for a single person like myself alot of the numbers are irrelevant when kids/spouse are thrown into the mix. I'm interested in hearing from the single folks out there. Anyways, here is me


Prop Tax 185
Utilities 250
Insurance 125
Gas/maint. 100
Eating out 240
Groceries 160
Cat 10
Entertainment 75
Toiletries 50
Cable/Net 100
Phone 55
Gym 35
Parking 40
Presents/clothes 75
Vacations 125 (Mexico once a year!!)

Total 1725

I don't spend anything on medical (Canada...land of free health care, no prescriptions, dental/optical covered by work). I also ditched the mortgage recently so that is why I have nothing for housing (except utils and tax).....I suppose I will have some R&M costs on the house, but so far nothing besides fixing the dishwasher and garage door.

Your turn..........

 

[NinjaPigeon]

My total expenses per month are about $1975 with a roommate.

rent $464
student loans $400
car loan $300
car insurance $110
cell phone $80
vonage $40
utilities $125
gas $100
groceries $200
entertainment $120
tolls $20

My vacation budget isn't part of my normal spending. And I don't plan for a certain amount really. But here's a rough breakdown of what it's been so far:
2007: $3k
2006: $5k
2005: $5k

I know that seems really high, but I'm in a long distance relationship, so I fly to Canada several times a year.

 

[dex]

accountingsucks,
I retired from a career in Finance and Accounting - ending as a VP.
If you were working for me I might give you a little less in your annual pay raise.
I would suggest
Are your numbers in USD or Canadian $?
Anualize the numbers
Add percentages of Gross and After Tax income.

 

[humandraydel]

Monthly expenses:

Rent - $500 (includes utilities)
Car - $250
Insurance - $120
School Loans - $500
Cell - $40
Internet - $50
Groceries - $300
Entertainment - $300
Gas - $100
Savings - $1200

 

[accountingsucks]

Amounts are in CDN
My take home pay including 5K bonus is 62K CDN (83K pretax)

 

[W2R]

Prop Tax 185
Utilities 250
Insurance 125
Gas/maint. 100
Eating out 240
Groceries 160
Cat 10
Entertainment 75
Toiletries 50
Cable/Net 100
Phone 55
Gym 35
Parking 40
Presents/clothes 75
Vacations 125 (Mexico once a year!!)

Total 1725

In comparison I spent less on property taxes, utilities, gasoline/maint, toiletries, cable/internet, and presents/clothes.

I spent nothing on eating out, cat, entertainment, parking, vacations (I have such a wild life! )

I spent more than you did on insurance, groceries, gym/fitness

I also added a category: art, diverse purchases $50 (USD)

 

[aaronc879]

Monthly Expenses:

Rent- $400
Car Ins.- $75
Gas- $75
Electric- $35
Cell- $40
Cable/
Internet- $125
Groceries- $150
Eat out- $50
Entertainment/
Other $50

Total- $1000/month

 

[SecondCor521]

I'm a single dad of 3, so I have some kid expenses, but I separated them out and posted my "single" budget here:

http://early-retirement.org/forums/index.php?topic=13162.msg247243#msg247243

2Cor521

 

[haha]

I'm looking at these rents. What are you guys renting for this kind of money?

Ha

 

[humandraydel]

I'm looking at these rents. What are you guys renting for this kind of money?

Ha

$500 = 1 bedroom apt in the midwest.

 

[aaronc879]

$400- 1 bedroom apt small town in the midwest.

 

[kaudrey]

Hi,

I'm single and live in Washington, DC. These are approximates:

Mortgage/prop tax/ins: 1900
Utilities 250
Gas/maint. 100
Eating out 250
Groceries 200
Cats 50
Entertainment 300
Toiletries 25
Cable/Internet 165
Phone 55
Gym 70
Commuting 100
Clothes/Shoes 25
Vacations/Travel for hobby: 400

Total 3890

After tax savings (in addition to maxing out the 401(k): $1800 a month.

 

[NinjaPigeon]

I'm looking at these rents. What are you guys renting for this kind of money?

Ha

I live in Atlanta, so a 2BR apartment is costing us $928. If you go with an older, unrenovated property, or move further outside the city, you could probably shave $100, maybe even $150 off of that. But for the additional commute time you'd get, it's not even close to worth it for renting.

 

[Khan]

Cable - 50
Health Ins - 73
Water/sewer/trash - 33
Cell - 10
House/car Ins - 50
Petrol - 8
Car maintenance - 10
Dentist - 15
Electric - 29
Gas - 65
Phone/DSL - 68
Property tax - 70
Charity - 160
Vet - 25
Plumber 20
Bird/squirrel food - 100
Grocery stores - 400
Neighbor(lawn/yard care) - 50

~$1200/mo
------------------------
grocery includes food/pet food/cleaning/soap/paper...

not including fed/state taxes
-------------------------
I exceed that every couple months - cutting trees, major car work, new computer every 3 or so years, major plumbing

Will have to start buying clothes, shoes, sheets, towels as they are starting to disintegrate

Thinking I will have to replace the car before too long

 

[YVR-Terri]

Mortgage - 1600
Utilities - 150
Phone / Internet - 100
Cell - 50
Medical Services Plan - 60 (Canadian)
Groceries - 300 (includes approx $20 for 1 cat)
Car insurance - 125
Gas & maintenance - 200
Gym & personal trainer - 250
Restaurants - 300
Books, movies, entertainment - 200
City utilities, house insurance etc. - 100
Misc. work expenses (self-employed) - 100
Travel / sports / fun - 200
Clothes - 100
Miscellaneous (usually gifts & stuff for house) - 100

All amounts approximate, CAD $, excludes savings & investment and charity.

Total 3985/mo on average.

 

[joesxm3]

I am still working and have a house with $4500 property tax. Including the approximately $8k I give to my mother I spent around $50k last year.

My biggest money leak might be stopping at an overpriced store every night to buy food ($25-40 per day) and lunches at work ($20 per day).

I have started eating a kashi frozen meal for lunch ($4.20) and trying to eat more veggies and homemade soups, but work sucks the life out of me and it is hard to cook at night.

Also, since I stopped getting lap dances at the local gentleman's club the rate of increase of my nest egg has really accelerated

 

[NinjaPigeon]

Also, since I stopped getting lap dances at the local gentleman's club the rate of increase of my nest egg has really accelerated

I think you might have a hard time selling that little nugget of personal finance wisdom

 

[Meadbh]

I don't have time to do a breakdown each month. Some of my expenses are work related and my corporation reimburses me twice yearly for those. I spend a lot on travel. Personal expenses vary quite a bit from year to year. In general I have found I can live and pay taxes on $40K Canadian. But the (12 year old) car is developing a loud rattle.........