We spent $11k last year at grocery stores - but I include most grocery store purchases in that category - and there are clothes, and booze from costco in that figure. I also have 2 adult sons under roof - one was only home part of the year last year - so our grocery bill dropped during that window.
Our highest category is insurance. Health, car, home, rental policy, umbrella, earthquake. - Hit $20k last year just for all of the different types of insurance premiums. (This includes DH's medicare B payment deducted from his SS.)
Second highest category last year was education - had a kid in college, and another kid who was doing competitive swim and piano lessons. (I tag them as education because swim was for the school swim team, piano lessons were private - but I consider them educational.)
Groceries came in third - 12% of total spending.
I don't skimp on groceries. We cook from scratch and make really tasty food. Skimping would mean lower quality.
When I was interested in cutting expenses I looked at recurring bills. Changed cell phone plans, renegotiated cable/internet, figured out ways to drop our gas/electric utilities and water bills. These little changes add up.
Our highest category is insurance. Health, car, home, rental policy, umbrella, earthquake. - Hit $20k last year just for all of the different types of insurance premiums. (This includes DH's medicare B payment deducted from his SS.)
Second highest category last year was education - had a kid in college, and another kid who was doing competitive swim and piano lessons. (I tag them as education because swim was for the school swim team, piano lessons were private - but I consider them educational.)
Groceries came in third - 12% of total spending.
I don't skimp on groceries. We cook from scratch and make really tasty food. Skimping would mean lower quality.
When I was interested in cutting expenses I looked at recurring bills. Changed cell phone plans, renegotiated cable/internet, figured out ways to drop our gas/electric utilities and water bills. These little changes add up.