What are your One or Two Largest Spending Categories?

[Amethyst]

Not sure why food is such a biggie for many. Our food bill runs less than 2% of total expenditures. You-all big eaters, or what?

Amethyst

 

[bbbamI]

Been there, done that. But he deserved every good thing, and I am sure yours does, too.

I reckon so...

 

[Bikerdude]

1.) Property taxes

2.) Mortgage

3.) Health care expense

State & Federal income and sales taxes would be #2 but I guess we are not counting them in this poll.

And the politicians wonder why the economy is sluggish.

 

[FIREd]

Not sure why food is such a biggie for many. Our food bill runs less than 2% of total expenditures. You-all big eaters, or what?

Amethyst

Groceries represent 11% of our expenses (excluding income taxes). We are not big eaters at all, but we buy a lot of healthy/"gourmet" food. One of my goal for this year was to cut back on our grocery bill but I failed miserably.

 

[Gumby]

1. Mortgage P&I
2. Real property tax
3. Food & Wine
4. Vacation

 

[LOL!]

Mortgage P&I
Charity
Prop taxes

 

[Gone4Good]

Taxes, by a country mile.

But we're going to fix that soon.

And then I expect one of my biggest expenses will be gasoline for the RV.

 

[ProspectiveBum]

Not sure why food is such a biggie for many. Our food bill runs less than 2% of total expenditures. You-all big eaters, or what?

Amethyst

Surprised that your food bill would be so low, unless you're spending $300k per year on other stuff. Are you excluding non-food grocery items from that tally (paper towels, bath tissue, tin foil, etc.)?

 

[Goonie]

#1 - Travel (mutli-day trips & vacations, day trips, live theater/music/shows)
#2 - Food (both groceries and restaurants)
#3 - Hobbies (gardening, model railroading, etc.)
#4 - Health Care (insurance, deductibles, co-pays, meds)
#5 - Home (insurance, property taxes, upkeep)

I retired early to have fun and enjoy life.....I guess from the looks of things, I'm being successful!

 

[Meadbh]

1. Travel
2. Utilities (old house, cold climate)
3. Groceries
4. Mortgages on rental properties
5. Property taxes

I don't do the calculations, but travel is definitely the top category. Much of it is business travel but I have to pay for it and wait for reimbursement, and not all my business travel is reimbursed.

 

[Alan]

1. Rent
2. Travel (may go to #1 after RE)
3. Groceries

 

[DayDreaming]

Not sure why food is such a biggie for many. Our food bill runs less than 2% of total expenditures. You-all big eaters, or what?

Amethyst

Could be that my other expenses are so low!

Property taxes are by far my #1 expense, with a lot of other categories competing for 2nd & 3rd place, but all significantly less than property taxes. (One side effect of living in New Jersey).

 

[FANOFJESUS]

Not sure why food is such a biggie for many. Our food bill runs less than 2% of total expenditures. You-all big eaters, or what?

Amethyst

Good question, I think it is because our property taxes are not too crazy. Here in MO if you are paying more than 3k in property taxes you have a real nice house. Most people here pay 2k or less. I have seen some nice 2br homes that are 1k a year in property taxes. Joedreaming I know I am shocking you right now.

 

[73ss454]

This year was as follows,

1. dental work for DW and I
2. food
3. property taxes

 

[RunningBum]

Not sure why food is such a biggie for many. Our food bill runs less than 2% of total expenditures. You-all big eaters, or what?

Amethyst

If I had a mortgage, had to pay for my own health insurance, counted income tax, and had a car payment and/or amortized what I paid for my car, my grocery bill would probably be down there too. I didn't even consider listing income tax because it's taken out of my check before I see it, but I understand why people do, and once retired I'll budget it.

 

[walkinwood]

property tax Health insurance.

 

[unclemick]

At 16 yrs of ER:

1. Party including travel and other frivolous stuff.

2. Mortgage and house insurance.

3. Taxes - fed., state, property. I didn't SWAG sales.

1. above varies all over the place depending on my mood - as high as 60% of income if I'm feeling Bon temps Rolliere!

heh heh heh -

 

[loosehead]

Medical insurance by far with food coming in second.

 

[cashflo2u2]

1. cat food
2. Groceries
3. Medical insurance, including long term care insurance
distant 4th is property taxes.

The stupid cat never likes anything so it seems that way.

 

[scrabbler1]

For 2009:

1. Co-op Maintenance (includes prop taxes, co-op's mortgage interest, garage parking, and other common charges).
2. Health care (mostly non-dental health insurance but also includes all dental services) is a very close second.
3. Day-to-Day cash expenses which are mostly food but also includes non-food items and my dancing fees.
4. Income taxes.
5. Auto+Home Insurance is a close 5th.

For 2010, however, my health insurance is rising at 20% (yuck!) while my co-op maintenance is not increasing (for the first time in 11 years!). This will make Health Care #1 for 2010.

 

[SecondCor521]

Category Cumulative Percentage

Tax 32.1%
Kids 61.7%
Interest Exp 76.5%
Insurance 82.4%
Food 88.2%
Utilities 92.2%
House 94.7%
Recreation 96.6%
Auto 98.0%
Medical 99.1%
Clothing 99.5%
Work Expense 99.7%
Cash 99.9%
Misc 100.0%
Bank Charge 100.0%

2Cor521

 

[kyounge1956]

My biggest categories are:

1. Contributions to retirement account (more than #2 and both #3's put together)
2. Tithe & other charities
3. Mortgage payments & Income tax (roughly tied for third place)

No more retirement contributions or mortgage once I retire. At that point I think income taxes may well edge out charity for the #1 spot, since my gross income will be lower and I won't have mortgage interest to deduct any more.

 

[oma]

Property Tax and fed income tax (no state tax in FLA), Homeowner's Association montly fees are my biggest.

 

[Dawg52]

Med's and golf.

 

[cardude]

1. Mortgage (24% of total budget)
2. Food/groceries/everyday items (11%)
3. Vacations (8%)
4. Property Tax-- Texas (7%)

Oooops, that's 4...........