What's your average monthly expense???
What's your average monthly expense???
Hello everyone,
For past few months, I have been trying hard to reduce my monthly expense but I couldn't reduce it much. So I'm just wondering what's the usual monthly expense you have, specially if you are married and don't have any kids. If I know yours or at least get some idea, then it will be easy for me to concentrate on specific categories. So here is my breakdown (average expense per category per month):
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: $1750
Phone + Internet: $160
Electricity + gas, water: $100
Auto Payment: $560
Auto Insurance: $86
Gas: $150 - $200
Grocery: $250 - $300
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $150-$200
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $150-$200
Debt: $200-$300
Misc: $150-$200
Family members: 2
Location: San Diego, CA
So now if I take all lower bound, then it gets $3706, if I take upper one, then it becomes: $4056 . On an average it generally goes between $3700 - $4200 . Does it look normal?
So in which category I am expending more than usual? What's your usual expense in those categories? If you share yours, it would be really helpful. Please feel free to criticize my expense breakdown. I'm open for any suggestions which can reduce my month expense.
If you want to share yours, you can use this template too:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc:
Phone + Internet:
Electricity + gas, water:
Auto Payment:
Auto Insurance:
Gas:
Grocery:
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc):
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc:
Debt:
Misc:
Average monthly total:
Family members:
Location:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks a lot in advance.
For past few months, I have been trying hard to reduce my monthly expense but I couldn't reduce it much. So I'm just wondering what's the usual monthly expense you have, specially if you are married and don't have any kids. If I know yours or at least get some idea, then it will be easy for me to concentrate on specific categories. So here is my breakdown (average expense per category per month):
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: $1750
Phone + Internet: $160
Electricity + gas, water: $100
Auto Payment: $560
Auto Insurance: $86
Gas: $150 - $200
Grocery: $250 - $300
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $150-$200
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $150-$200
Debt: $200-$300
Misc: $150-$200
Family members: 2
Location: San Diego, CA
So now if I take all lower bound, then it gets $3706, if I take upper one, then it becomes: $4056 . On an average it generally goes between $3700 - $4200 . Does it look normal?
So in which category I am expending more than usual? What's your usual expense in those categories? If you share yours, it would be really helpful. Please feel free to criticize my expense breakdown. I'm open for any suggestions which can reduce my month expense.
If you want to share yours, you can use this template too:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc:
Phone + Internet:
Electricity + gas, water:
Auto Payment:
Auto Insurance:
Gas:
Grocery:
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc):
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc:
Debt:
Misc:
Average monthly total:
Family members:
Location:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks a lot in advance.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
Real Estate Property Tax - $417.00
Phone + Internet: - $125
Electricity + gas, water: - $235 (lower when no heat or A/C is needed here in the Chicago burbs)
Auto / Motorcycle Payment: 0
Auto + Motorcycle Insurance: - $85
Homeowners Ins. - $62
Gas: - $120
Grocery: - $200
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): - $200 (this is on the high side. Usually about $50/month)
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: - $150
Cell Phone (4 phones- Sprint Unlimited everything) - $215
Long Term Care Ins - $210
Debt: 0
Misc: - $200
Average monthly total: $2157, but I'll round that up to ~ 2200 or 2300
But I'm single (I pay for 3 other peoples phones) and retired.
Works for me ~
Phone + Internet: - $125
Electricity + gas, water: - $235 (lower when no heat or A/C is needed here in the Chicago burbs)
Auto / Motorcycle Payment: 0
Auto + Motorcycle Insurance: - $85
Homeowners Ins. - $62
Gas: - $120
Grocery: - $200
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): - $200 (this is on the high side. Usually about $50/month)
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: - $150
Cell Phone (4 phones- Sprint Unlimited everything) - $215
Long Term Care Ins - $210
Debt: 0
Misc: - $200
Average monthly total: $2157, but I'll round that up to ~ 2200 or 2300
But I'm single (I pay for 3 other peoples phones) and retired.
Works for me ~
Last edited by Jerry55 on Mon Apr 20, 2015 3:02 am, edited 2 times in total.
Retired CSRS on 12/19/2012 @ age 57 w/39 years |
Good Bye Tension, Hello Pension !!!
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- Posts: 2613
- Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2012 2:47 pm
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
This looks highish. We have 2 smartphones and cable internet for about $100.dreamer wrote:Phone + Internet: $160
Auto: $1000 (fuel, insurance, payment, service)
Bills: $200 (electricity, gas, internet, phone, sewer, water)
Entertainment: $200 (arts, movies, streaming)
Food: $1400 (groceries, restaurants)
Gifts: $200 (donations [non-DAF], presents, weddings)
Health: $400 (gym, insurance, sports)
Home: $1000 (insurance, mortgage, property tax)
Shopping: $400 (clothes, crafts, electronics, games)
Travel: $800 (cruises, flights, hotels, trains)
Family members: 2
Location: Reno, NV
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- Posts: 1814
- Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2011 8:15 pm
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
This looks very normal for the area.
We also live in SD. Married, 1 infant child. Very similar budget, rolling 12-month expenditure is $4996. Our rent is higher by $650, which nearly accounts for the difference.
Is there a reason you want your budget lower? Not meeting your savings goals?
Savings is denial of needs/wants. If you're going to deny yourself, you should have a good reason.
----
Looking at your budget, nothing looks overly extravagant. Rent isn't going to get any better.
The car payments, phone service, and debt are eating into your cash-flow and keeping your costs up. When the car payments and debt (student? CC?) payments are done, you'll have a lot less fixed costs.
We also live in SD. Married, 1 infant child. Very similar budget, rolling 12-month expenditure is $4996. Our rent is higher by $650, which nearly accounts for the difference.
Is there a reason you want your budget lower? Not meeting your savings goals?
Savings is denial of needs/wants. If you're going to deny yourself, you should have a good reason.
----
Looking at your budget, nothing looks overly extravagant. Rent isn't going to get any better.
The car payments, phone service, and debt are eating into your cash-flow and keeping your costs up. When the car payments and debt (student? CC?) payments are done, you'll have a lot less fixed costs.
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- Posts: 133
- Joined: Sat Apr 11, 2015 12:34 am
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
Unmarried man renting room in a house in San Jose
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: $850 (includes most utilities). My girlfriend might move in with me, which would cut this expense in half and reduce some others too
Phone: $30/mo (T-mobile offers a great cheap $30/mo plan)
Internet: $10/mo (I split a $40/mo plan with 3 others)
Electricity + gas, water: included in rent
Auto Payment: none
Auto Insurance: $35/mo (non-owner's auto insurance, want to get this lowered, seems way too high considering how little I drive and my completely clean driving record)
Umbrella policy: $15/mo
Public transportation, cabs, car-sharing services: $200/mo
Gas: $0
Grocery: $50 (I work at Google so I eat three meals a day there for free. Before my free Google food, this figure was $150).
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $100 (was more before I started working at Google)
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $100
Debt: $0
Amortized cost of large purchases like computer, blender, etc.: $100/mo (maybe you meant for me to include this in Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc)
Travel: Paid for by exploiting credit card sign-up bonuses
Total $1490/mo
If gf moves in: $1050/mo estimated
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: $850 (includes most utilities). My girlfriend might move in with me, which would cut this expense in half and reduce some others too
Phone: $30/mo (T-mobile offers a great cheap $30/mo plan)
Internet: $10/mo (I split a $40/mo plan with 3 others)
Electricity + gas, water: included in rent
Auto Payment: none
Auto Insurance: $35/mo (non-owner's auto insurance, want to get this lowered, seems way too high considering how little I drive and my completely clean driving record)
Umbrella policy: $15/mo
Public transportation, cabs, car-sharing services: $200/mo
Gas: $0
Grocery: $50 (I work at Google so I eat three meals a day there for free. Before my free Google food, this figure was $150).
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $100 (was more before I started working at Google)
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $100
Debt: $0
Amortized cost of large purchases like computer, blender, etc.: $100/mo (maybe you meant for me to include this in Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc)
Travel: Paid for by exploiting credit card sign-up bonuses
Total $1490/mo
If gf moves in: $1050/mo estimated
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
About $2,700 of your $3,700 expenses (conservative estimate) are housing related or auto related expenses. So it is unlikely you can make a huge jump in saving rate unless those costs go down somehow.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
You could probably shave off about $60/month on the phone/internet. Switching to a service like Republic Wireless has saved us a lot.
What is the car situation? Do you have 2 cars? I would sell that car and get one you could afford- ie, a car with no loan. If you were really serious (assuming you have 2 cars) sell one and bike more often (California is great for this).
Doing that would eliminate your $560 payment, lower your auto insurance (guessing here but maybe by $36?), lower your gas by maybe $75-$100? It would also improve your health.
With the phone and car that should give you about $700 that you can add to savings.
Food actually dosnt seem bad even with eating out- about 500 for 2 eating healthy is good.
400 for "waste" (entertainment/and misc) isn't all that terrible either. Could maybe try to drop that by $100 per month if you wanted to squeeze.
First month would be break even for the 2 $150 repub wireless phones you would need and the $500 bike you may need to buy.
Probably hard to get much lower on rent in San Diego but maybe if you have a spare room you could get it on Airbnb a few nights a month to help pay for that cost?
What is the car situation? Do you have 2 cars? I would sell that car and get one you could afford- ie, a car with no loan. If you were really serious (assuming you have 2 cars) sell one and bike more often (California is great for this).
Doing that would eliminate your $560 payment, lower your auto insurance (guessing here but maybe by $36?), lower your gas by maybe $75-$100? It would also improve your health.
With the phone and car that should give you about $700 that you can add to savings.
Food actually dosnt seem bad even with eating out- about 500 for 2 eating healthy is good.
400 for "waste" (entertainment/and misc) isn't all that terrible either. Could maybe try to drop that by $100 per month if you wanted to squeeze.
First month would be break even for the 2 $150 repub wireless phones you would need and the $500 bike you may need to buy.
Probably hard to get much lower on rent in San Diego but maybe if you have a spare room you could get it on Airbnb a few nights a month to help pay for that cost?
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- Posts: 2388
- Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 7:09 am
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
I'm single with kids grown and gone. My total monthly "ongoing" expenses average $2300-2600/mo. Much of that is in categories you don't show: medical, life, and disability insurance, home maintenance/property upkeep, gifts, clothing, as well as what I guess I'd call a generic sinking fund for occasional expenses such as auto repair maintenance, travel, home repair/replacement costs, medical expenses not covered by insurance, pet care, etc. That sinking fund is my largest single budget "item".
Regarding the specific list you are interested in, I included my approximate figures below. My Rent/mtg etc. category includes property taxes, HOA fees, and insurance on both my primary home and a cabin. Similarly the utilities figure includes both properties. My auto insurance number includes an umbrella policy.
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: $350
Phone + Internet: $131
Electricity + gas, water: $190
Auto Payment: $0
Auto Insurance: $52
Gas: $125
Grocery: $175
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): <$30
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: <$50
Debt: $0
Misc: $50
Regarding the specific list you are interested in, I included my approximate figures below. My Rent/mtg etc. category includes property taxes, HOA fees, and insurance on both my primary home and a cabin. Similarly the utilities figure includes both properties. My auto insurance number includes an umbrella policy.
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: $350
Phone + Internet: $131
Electricity + gas, water: $190
Auto Payment: $0
Auto Insurance: $52
Gas: $125
Grocery: $175
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): <$30
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: <$50
Debt: $0
Misc: $50
Don't do something. Just stand there!
- Stirlingsean2
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2015 1:36 am
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
These are all very normal. Nothing looks extravagant. Still if you have worries for future or something else look for extra income sources.
- Christine_NM
- Posts: 2796
- Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 12:13 am
- Location: New Mexico
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: home items & upkeep/yr = $600/month
Phone + Internet: $200
Electricity + gas, water: $200
Auto Payment: $0
Auto Insurance: $90
Gas: $10
Grocery: $250
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $0
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $500
Debt: $0
Misc: charity $300/mon
Average monthly total: $2250
Family members: 1
Location: urban New Mexico, if there is such a thing
This excludes state and fed taxes, health insurance, drug and copay costs, gifts, vacation. Add these in and whatever else is missing, and I think my real spending varies from $2800-$4000/month.
In 2014 I figured total spending on everything to be $52,000 for that year, the ninth of retirement. The first year of retirement I spent $31,000 total for the year.
Phone + Internet: $200
Electricity + gas, water: $200
Auto Payment: $0
Auto Insurance: $90
Gas: $10
Grocery: $250
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $0
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $500
Debt: $0
Misc: charity $300/mon
Average monthly total: $2250
Family members: 1
Location: urban New Mexico, if there is such a thing
This excludes state and fed taxes, health insurance, drug and copay costs, gifts, vacation. Add these in and whatever else is missing, and I think my real spending varies from $2800-$4000/month.
In 2014 I figured total spending on everything to be $52,000 for that year, the ninth of retirement. The first year of retirement I spent $31,000 total for the year.
16% cash 49% stock 35% bond. Retired, w/d rate 2.5%
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: 2,100 (not including maintenance)
Phone + Internet: 300
Electricity + gas, water: 200
Auto Payment: 0
Auto Insurance: 150
Gas: 300
Grocery: 300
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): 1,000?
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: 500?
Debt: 0
Misc: gym 150,
Average monthly total: 5000
Family members: 1
Location: Chicago
I do not track expenses, so food and entertainment is all ball parked. We eat and drink out alot, so I might even be low on those #s. Just thinking, this past weekend we spent over 200, and didnt go 'all out'. Add the twice daily coffees, and lunches out, that # might get scary
Phone + Internet: 300
Electricity + gas, water: 200
Auto Payment: 0
Auto Insurance: 150
Gas: 300
Grocery: 300
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): 1,000?
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: 500?
Debt: 0
Misc: gym 150,
Average monthly total: 5000
Family members: 1
Location: Chicago
I do not track expenses, so food and entertainment is all ball parked. We eat and drink out alot, so I might even be low on those #s. Just thinking, this past weekend we spent over 200, and didnt go 'all out'. Add the twice daily coffees, and lunches out, that # might get scary
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
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Last edited by Confused on Fri Nov 06, 2015 12:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- Posts: 551
- Joined: Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:09 pm
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
I could add one more family to the list, but I think I could provide better information by showing the average for all American couples, with no children, and at least one earner.
The first column is the US average for 2013. You look a little below average for the things you list.
160 Phone + Internet: $160
391 Auto Payment: $560
103 Auto Insurance: $86
251 Gas: $150 - $200
352 Grocery: $250 - $300
233 Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $150-$200
177 Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $150-$200
------------
1,667 Subtotal: $1,446k
Your "Misc" of $150-$200 is far short of the sum of other things that the average family spends.
I'll list them:
267 Furniture, small appliances, cleaning supplies, …
137 Clothing
90 Car maint & repairs
23 Car rental, parking, tolls
257 Health insurance
46 Dental, Eyecare, Hearing Aids
94 Other medical
67 Cable/Satellite services
32 Personal care products
33 Personal care services
37 Education
47 Alcohol
29 Tobacco
237 Gifts to family & friends
147 Tax deductible contributions
52 Life and other pers insurance
246 Travel
------------
1,838 Subtotal
If you're really at $150-$200 for everything here, you're very thrifty. OTOH, you may be overlooking some categories.
Couples who rent spend quite a bit less on shelter than those who are buying houses.
Either:
969 Rent
125 Utilities
------
1,094
Or:
1,110 Mortgage
328 HO ins, RE tax
260 Utilities
171 Upkeep
--------
1,868
This information comes from the Consumer Expenditure Survey which gets extremely detailed information from interviews and diaries. The numbers above are the averages of about 1,000 families.
The first column is the US average for 2013. You look a little below average for the things you list.
160 Phone + Internet: $160
391 Auto Payment: $560
103 Auto Insurance: $86
251 Gas: $150 - $200
352 Grocery: $250 - $300
233 Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $150-$200
177 Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $150-$200
------------
1,667 Subtotal: $1,446k
Your "Misc" of $150-$200 is far short of the sum of other things that the average family spends.
I'll list them:
267 Furniture, small appliances, cleaning supplies, …
137 Clothing
90 Car maint & repairs
23 Car rental, parking, tolls
257 Health insurance
46 Dental, Eyecare, Hearing Aids
94 Other medical
67 Cable/Satellite services
32 Personal care products
33 Personal care services
37 Education
47 Alcohol
29 Tobacco
237 Gifts to family & friends
147 Tax deductible contributions
52 Life and other pers insurance
246 Travel
------------
1,838 Subtotal
If you're really at $150-$200 for everything here, you're very thrifty. OTOH, you may be overlooking some categories.
Couples who rent spend quite a bit less on shelter than those who are buying houses.
Either:
969 Rent
125 Utilities
------
1,094
Or:
1,110 Mortgage
328 HO ins, RE tax
260 Utilities
171 Upkeep
--------
1,868
This information comes from the Consumer Expenditure Survey which gets extremely detailed information from interviews and diaries. The numbers above are the averages of about 1,000 families.
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- Posts: 379
- Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2014 10:15 am
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: $650 (Renting a bedroom in 3 bedroom apartment)
Phone + Internet: $60
Electricity + gas, water: $60
Auto Payment: None!
Auto Insurance: None!
Gas: $200
Grocery: $300
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $100
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $200
Debt: None!
Misc: $200
Average monthly total: ~$1800
Family members: Single
Location: Washington DC
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: $650 (Renting a bedroom in 3 bedroom apartment)
Phone + Internet: $60
Electricity + gas, water: $60
Auto Payment: None!
Auto Insurance: None!
Gas: $200
Grocery: $300
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $100
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $200
Debt: None!
Misc: $200
Average monthly total: ~$1800
Family members: Single
Location: Washington DC
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
Typically top expenses are housing, car, health and food. Single cohabitating person next to northeastern city. My current share:
Housing: $500
Car: $200
Healthcare: $100
Utilities: $75
Food: $200
Phone: $40
Travel: $400
Restaurants: $200
Tennis/yoga/bball/cycling/hiking: $50
Clothes: $20
Gifts: $1100
About $3k but add $1k a month once our family grows. Our best financial move was to rent vs. buy. Worst was not to save aggressively and to eat out weekly.
Housing: $500
Car: $200
Healthcare: $100
Utilities: $75
Food: $200
Phone: $40
Travel: $400
Restaurants: $200
Tennis/yoga/bball/cycling/hiking: $50
Clothes: $20
Gifts: $1100
About $3k but add $1k a month once our family grows. Our best financial move was to rent vs. buy. Worst was not to save aggressively and to eat out weekly.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
By and large you seem to be doing ok, though it does seem like you're missing some categories - car maintenance, medical/dental costs, clothes, cleaning supplies and household sundries, gifts, life insurance (if any), haircuts and personal care, clothing/shoes, travel and vacation, donations (if any), etc. Maybe all of that fits into your 'Misc' category, but I think it's possible that some of that hasn't been accounted for, and since the costs aren't as regular you might not be tracking them.
Aside from that, the 'easy' places to look are at your phone/internet bill and eating out, as others have mentioned.
Aside from that, the 'easy' places to look are at your phone/internet bill and eating out, as others have mentioned.
Retirement investing is a marathon.
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2014 11:29 am
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
My wife and I track 8-9k in total spending per month. I feel like this is a ton compared to everyone else that's posting here. However, if we say our total spend is 100k in 12 months some of it breaks down this way.
$28,800 Mortgage (including prepayment) 18k will go to principal
$6720 Car Payment (all principal)
$10,000 Day Care
So there is almost half right there $45,520.
That's on a combined income of 210k total gross approx. We have approx 250k total debt including mortgage and I'll have all debt cleared in under 10 years. I still think we are spending too much. Our overspending categories are food and shopping. We also have housecleaning at $200 per month and lawnmowing at around $75 per month in non-winter months. We have two incomes which means daycare cost plus additional commute costs as we both drive approx 30-45 min each way to work.
I will add approx 50k to retirement accounts and 25k to debt elimination in the next 12 months. So are we overspending or are we doing good at spending 8-9k per month? You decide, I dunno what's balanced.
$28,800 Mortgage (including prepayment) 18k will go to principal
$6720 Car Payment (all principal)
$10,000 Day Care
So there is almost half right there $45,520.
That's on a combined income of 210k total gross approx. We have approx 250k total debt including mortgage and I'll have all debt cleared in under 10 years. I still think we are spending too much. Our overspending categories are food and shopping. We also have housecleaning at $200 per month and lawnmowing at around $75 per month in non-winter months. We have two incomes which means daycare cost plus additional commute costs as we both drive approx 30-45 min each way to work.
I will add approx 50k to retirement accounts and 25k to debt elimination in the next 12 months. So are we overspending or are we doing good at spending 8-9k per month? You decide, I dunno what's balanced.
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- Posts: 13356
- Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2010 1:45 pm
- Location: Reading, MA
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
My detailed expense spreadsheet from 2-3 years ago is at home and I'm not there now.
My basic expenses, excluding recreational travel and income taxes, were around $4000 a month as I recall.
Included in that was $500/month for vehicle purchases even though I have no loan.
Also included was a few hundred dollars a month for home furnishing and appliance replacement...
My basic expenses, excluding recreational travel and income taxes, were around $4000 a month as I recall.
Included in that was $500/month for vehicle purchases even though I have no loan.
Also included was a few hundred dollars a month for home furnishing and appliance replacement...
Attempted new signature...
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- Posts: 316
- Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 9:50 pm
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
HCOLA-
Our mortgage + RE tax = $4000/mo
Daycare = $1700/mo
Groceries/dog food/beer = $650-$750/mo
Utilities ~ $500/mo
Debt: 0
Car payments: 0
3 person household. We spend around 10k/month, if not more.
Our mortgage + RE tax = $4000/mo
Daycare = $1700/mo
Groceries/dog food/beer = $650-$750/mo
Utilities ~ $500/mo
Debt: 0
Car payments: 0
3 person household. We spend around 10k/month, if not more.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: $2,000
Phone + Internet: $150
Electricity + gas, water: 0
Auto Payment: 0
Auto Insurance: 0
Gas: 0
Grocery: 0
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $1,000
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $1,000
Debt: 0
Misc: 0
Average monthly total: $4,150
Family members: 1
Location: NYC
Phone + Internet: $150
Electricity + gas, water: 0
Auto Payment: 0
Auto Insurance: 0
Gas: 0
Grocery: 0
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $1,000
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $1,000
Debt: 0
Misc: 0
Average monthly total: $4,150
Family members: 1
Location: NYC
40% Extended Market | 40% S&P 500 | 10% REIT | 5% State Muni Bond | 5% Cash
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
Rent: $900
Food: ~$300
Transportation: $80
Cell phone: $20
Average = $1300/month
Food: ~$300
Transportation: $80
Cell phone: $20
Average = $1300/month
Don't only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets. For it and knowledge can raise men to the divine. |
L. Beethoven
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: $1,000
Phone + Internet: $65
Electricity + gas, water: $250
Auto Payment: $0
Auto Insurance: $200
Gas: $250
Subway pass: $110
Grocery: $250
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $250
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $1000
Debt: $0
Misc: $0
Average monthly total: $3,375
Family members: 2
Location: NYC
Phone + Internet: $65
Electricity + gas, water: $250
Auto Payment: $0
Auto Insurance: $200
Gas: $250
Subway pass: $110
Grocery: $250
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $250
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $1000
Debt: $0
Misc: $0
Average monthly total: $3,375
Family members: 2
Location: NYC
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- Posts: 3314
- Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:17 am
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
I'm having trouble believing that people have $200 - $300 monthly grocery bills for two people.
My wife and I budget $600 a month for groceries, and our 11-month average is in the $530 or so range. We eat well, but not spectacularly well--which means, we aren't eating organic wild-caught salmon every night, but we try to eat a fish dish one night and a beef dish another night and a vegetarian dish another night and so on.
And, now that I think about it, when we had to stock a pantry with all new items due to a move, we dropped $700 easily on just basic canned goods, staples, condiments, and the like. To say that one's grocery bill is in the $200 to $300 range ignores, I think, the basic set-up food costs that allows for a lower monthly grocery bill in the first place.
My wife and I budget $600 a month for groceries, and our 11-month average is in the $530 or so range. We eat well, but not spectacularly well--which means, we aren't eating organic wild-caught salmon every night, but we try to eat a fish dish one night and a beef dish another night and a vegetarian dish another night and so on.
And, now that I think about it, when we had to stock a pantry with all new items due to a move, we dropped $700 easily on just basic canned goods, staples, condiments, and the like. To say that one's grocery bill is in the $200 to $300 range ignores, I think, the basic set-up food costs that allows for a lower monthly grocery bill in the first place.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
I track our expenses differently. discretionary and non-discre. I categorize our credit card and cash expenses but lump grocery, entertainment, gas, which are quite stable.
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: 220
Phone + Internet : 138
Electricity + gas, water: 320
Auto Payment:0
Auto Insurance: included in home insurance above
Gas:
Grocery:
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc):
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc:
Debt:0
Misc: (Credit card and Cash expense includes the 4 above): 1210
Average monthly total: 5000
Note: the average monthly includes gifts, vacation, medical expense, home maintenance, improvements,charity, taxes.
Family members: 2 Retired
Location: New England.
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: 220
Phone + Internet : 138
Electricity + gas, water: 320
Auto Payment:0
Auto Insurance: included in home insurance above
Gas:
Grocery:
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc):
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc:
Debt:0
Misc: (Credit card and Cash expense includes the 4 above): 1210
Average monthly total: 5000
Note: the average monthly includes gifts, vacation, medical expense, home maintenance, improvements,charity, taxes.
Family members: 2 Retired
Location: New England.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
+1Random Poster wrote:I'm having trouble believing that people have $200 - $300 monthly grocery bills for two people.
My wife and I budget $600 a month for groceries, and our 11-month average is in the $530 or so range. We eat well, but not spectacularly well--which means, we aren't eating organic wild-caught salmon every night, but we try to eat a fish dish one night and a beef dish another night and a vegetarian dish another night and so on.
And, now that I think about it, when we had to stock a pantry with all new items due to a move, we dropped $700 easily on just basic canned goods, staples, condiments, and the like. To say that one's grocery bill is in the $200 to $300 range ignores, I think, the basic set-up food costs that allows for a lower monthly grocery bill in the first place.
I don't know how sustainable, healthy nutrition can be maintained for two adults at that cost for any period of time.
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2014 11:29 am
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
+2 and I'm not that cheap. I like to enjoy food. We spend too much but $200-300 is too little in my book.LRDave wrote:+1Random Poster wrote:I'm having trouble believing that people have $200 - $300 monthly grocery bills for two people.
My wife and I budget $600 a month for groceries, and our 11-month average is in the $530 or so range. We eat well, but not spectacularly well--which means, we aren't eating organic wild-caught salmon every night, but we try to eat a fish dish one night and a beef dish another night and a vegetarian dish another night and so on.
And, now that I think about it, when we had to stock a pantry with all new items due to a move, we dropped $700 easily on just basic canned goods, staples, condiments, and the like. To say that one's grocery bill is in the $200 to $300 range ignores, I think, the basic set-up food costs that allows for a lower monthly grocery bill in the first place.
I don't know how sustainable, healthy nutrition can be maintained for two adults at that cost for any period of time.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
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Last edited by Confused on Fri Nov 06, 2015 12:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
I wouldn't have done this, but I am also in San Diego... so I guess it makes sense!
Living w/ Girlfriend who is in Grad school. I didn't include cost of school.
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc:1000
Phone + Internet:120
Electricity + gas, water:60
Auto Payment:0
Auto Insurance:300
Gas:300
Grocery:400
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc):150
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc:200
Debt:
Misc:400
Average monthly total: 2930
Family members:2
Location:San Diego
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Living w/ Girlfriend who is in Grad school. I didn't include cost of school.
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc:1000
Phone + Internet:120
Electricity + gas, water:60
Auto Payment:0
Auto Insurance:300
Gas:300
Grocery:400
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc):150
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc:200
Debt:
Misc:400
Average monthly total: 2930
Family members:2
Location:San Diego
-------------------
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2014 11:29 am
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
I spent $35 on Chinese Delivery last night.Confused wrote:Grocery costs are, of course, dependent on what you eat. I grocery shop with a sibling every other week. That sibling is single, so only shopping for one person. And every time it's exactly the same thing:Cpt_Beanie wrote:+2 and I'm not that cheap. I like to enjoy food. We spend too much but $200-300 is too little in my book.LRDave wrote:+1Random Poster wrote:I'm having trouble believing that people have $200 - $300 monthly grocery bills for two people.
My wife and I budget $600 a month for groceries, and our 11-month average is in the $530 or so range. We eat well, but not spectacularly well--which means, we aren't eating organic wild-caught salmon every night, but we try to eat a fish dish one night and a beef dish another night and a vegetarian dish another night and so on.
And, now that I think about it, when we had to stock a pantry with all new items due to a move, we dropped $700 easily on just basic canned goods, staples, condiments, and the like. To say that one's grocery bill is in the $200 to $300 range ignores, I think, the basic set-up food costs that allows for a lower monthly grocery bill in the first place.
I don't know how sustainable, healthy nutrition can be maintained for two adults at that cost for any period of time.
Two loaves of bread, one bag of bagels, one bag of cereal, one gallon of milk, pre-sliced meat for sandwiches, several Pasta Sides and several Rice Sides, a couple Tuna Helpers and cans of tuna fish, frozen burritos, and occasionally a jar of peanut butter. Two weeks of food for one person. Price tag is always right around $35.
If you want to eat fancy, expect a higher grocery bill. If you want to cut costs, simplify your meals.
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- Posts: 133
- Joined: Sat Apr 11, 2015 12:34 am
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
When bought in bulk at low-cost stores:Random Poster wrote:I'm having trouble believing that people have $200 - $300 monthly grocery bills for two people.
My wife and I budget $600 a month for groceries, and our 11-month average is in the $530 or so range. We eat well, but not spectacularly well--which means, we aren't eating organic wild-caught salmon every night, but we try to eat a fish dish one night and a beef dish another night and a vegetarian dish another night and so on.
And, now that I think about it, when we had to stock a pantry with all new items due to a move, we dropped $700 easily on just basic canned goods, staples, condiments, and the like. To say that one's grocery bill is in the $200 to $300 range ignores, I think, the basic set-up food costs that allows for a lower monthly grocery bill in the first place.
Rice - $0.50/2000 calories
Beans - $1/2000 calories
Whole Milk - $3/2000 calories
Eggs - $2.20/2000 calories
Oatmeal - $1/2000 calories
...and the list goes on.
So you can easily get a day's worth of calories from healthy foods for <$2. This is <$60 a month. This leaves you with $90/mo for things like:
Chicken, pork - $3/lb
Apples - $1/lb year round
Bananas - $.69/lb year round
etc.
And I live in the bay area.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: $860
TV + Internet: $144
Electricity + gas, water: $0 (roommate pays these, I pay tv/internet)
Auto Payment: $200
Auto Insurance: $60
Gas: $80
Grocery: $50 (I don't cook)
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $600
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $150
Debt: $0
Misc: $250 (travel...I budget $3k/year for air/hotels, and my discretionary spending tends to be less than when I am at home, as I do tours which tend to include a bunch of meals)
Average monthly total: $2400
Family members: 1
Location: Inland Empire, CA
TV + Internet: $144
Electricity + gas, water: $0 (roommate pays these, I pay tv/internet)
Auto Payment: $200
Auto Insurance: $60
Gas: $80
Grocery: $50 (I don't cook)
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $600
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $150
Debt: $0
Misc: $250 (travel...I budget $3k/year for air/hotels, and my discretionary spending tends to be less than when I am at home, as I do tours which tend to include a bunch of meals)
Average monthly total: $2400
Family members: 1
Location: Inland Empire, CA
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: $3750 (PITI + HOA fees)
Phone + Internet: 360 (cable, internet, home phone, plus cell phones for my wife and I plus my mom)
Electricity + gas, water: about 200 on average
Auto Payment: 0
Auto Insurance: about 100
Gas: 350
Grocery: 1000
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): 500
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: 500
Debt: 600
Misc: 250
Average monthly total: about 7000
Family members: 2
Location: MCOL city in Texas
I don't budget too awfully hard. I know we spend a lot. We splurge on a lot of things and spend a lot on family get-togethers, travel, and conveniences.
We save a little over 25% of gross compensation (including employer matches) into retirement accounts. We have a very high debt load with low interest rates. I throw all lump sum income at our debt. We spend the rest pretty freely.
Phone + Internet: 360 (cable, internet, home phone, plus cell phones for my wife and I plus my mom)
Electricity + gas, water: about 200 on average
Auto Payment: 0
Auto Insurance: about 100
Gas: 350
Grocery: 1000
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): 500
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: 500
Debt: 600
Misc: 250
Average monthly total: about 7000
Family members: 2
Location: MCOL city in Texas
I don't budget too awfully hard. I know we spend a lot. We splurge on a lot of things and spend a lot on family get-togethers, travel, and conveniences.
We save a little over 25% of gross compensation (including employer matches) into retirement accounts. We have a very high debt load with low interest rates. I throw all lump sum income at our debt. We spend the rest pretty freely.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
If you seriously want to cut your bills (in order of easy to harder).
1) get cheaper internet/phone (savings of ~$100/month)
2) eat at home more and maybe go out once per month (savings of ~$100/month)
3) examine your misc/entertainment budget (saving ~$100/month should be easy)
4) sell your car and buy a cheaper one (you could buy a reliable 10-year old Honda for under 1 years worth of payments and drive it for another 10 years, savings of ~$600/month once you factor in insurance savings)
anyways, my averages
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: $1500
Phone + Internet: $63
Electricity + gas, water: $206
Auto Payment: $0
Auto Insurance: $35
Gas: $142
Grocery: $911
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $125
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $480
Debt: $0
Misc: $250
Charity: $120
Average monthly total: $3832
Family members: 6
Location: Syracuse NY area
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Our shopping/misc categories are a bit ridiculous, but I did buy a ~$1400 piano and ~$900 in skiing equipment in those averages. Without those two big purchases it would bring the monthly average down to $3640, or course this isn't all that realistic as we always make 1-2 big purchases throughout the year. They won't be another piano and ski's this year, but it might be a nice grill or a new fridge, etc...
1) get cheaper internet/phone (savings of ~$100/month)
2) eat at home more and maybe go out once per month (savings of ~$100/month)
3) examine your misc/entertainment budget (saving ~$100/month should be easy)
4) sell your car and buy a cheaper one (you could buy a reliable 10-year old Honda for under 1 years worth of payments and drive it for another 10 years, savings of ~$600/month once you factor in insurance savings)
anyways, my averages
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: $1500
Phone + Internet: $63
Electricity + gas, water: $206
Auto Payment: $0
Auto Insurance: $35
Gas: $142
Grocery: $911
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $125
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $480
Debt: $0
Misc: $250
Charity: $120
Average monthly total: $3832
Family members: 6
Location: Syracuse NY area
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Our shopping/misc categories are a bit ridiculous, but I did buy a ~$1400 piano and ~$900 in skiing equipment in those averages. Without those two big purchases it would bring the monthly average down to $3640, or course this isn't all that realistic as we always make 1-2 big purchases throughout the year. They won't be another piano and ski's this year, but it might be a nice grill or a new fridge, etc...
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: $2,000.-
Phone + Internet: $120.-
Electricity + gas, water: $200.-
Auto Payment: $450.-
Auto Insurance: $270.-
Gas: $360
Grocery: $500
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $500
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $200
Debt: $0
Misc: $400 (Mom)
Average monthly total: $5,000.-
Family members: 4
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Phone + Internet: $120.-
Electricity + gas, water: $200.-
Auto Payment: $450.-
Auto Insurance: $270.-
Gas: $360
Grocery: $500
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $500
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $200
Debt: $0
Misc: $400 (Mom)
Average monthly total: $5,000.-
Family members: 4
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
I live in Germany and thus most of my expenses are in the Euro, but I'll convert to dollar.
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: $2000 (Paid by employer)
Phone + Internet: $50 (netflix, internet, home phone, and one cellphone; this was running us $150 a month by we eliminated one cell phone and found a MUCH better deal on high speed internet
Electricity + gas, water: $200 (paid by employer)
Auto Payment: 0
Auto Insurance: $40 (one older car)
Gas: $75
Grocery: $450
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $200
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $200
Debt: $0
Misc: $800
Tithe: $1000
Average monthly total: about $5000
Average savings/investments: $4500
Family members: 4
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Rent/mortgage, insurance, rental insurance, etc: $2000 (Paid by employer)
Phone + Internet: $50 (netflix, internet, home phone, and one cellphone; this was running us $150 a month by we eliminated one cell phone and found a MUCH better deal on high speed internet
Electricity + gas, water: $200 (paid by employer)
Auto Payment: 0
Auto Insurance: $40 (one older car)
Gas: $75
Grocery: $450
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $200
Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $200
Debt: $0
Misc: $800
Tithe: $1000
Average monthly total: about $5000
Average savings/investments: $4500
Family members: 4
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
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- FelixTheCat
- Posts: 2035
- Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2011 12:39 am
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
I live in San Diego. Your numbers look like mine. We are paying for the perfect weather here in our beach community.
Why is car so high? Get a pre owned car and pay it off. My SUV is eight years old. Eat at home and bring food to work. That's 760 a month right there.
Why is car so high? Get a pre owned car and pay it off. My SUV is eight years old. Eat at home and bring food to work. That's 760 a month right there.
Felix is a wonderful, wonderful cat.
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- Posts: 179
- Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2015 9:12 pm
- Location: Texas
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
Wow, so low expenses, I'm jealous. Our daycare + diapers,wipes+health ins, deductibles and other misc. on two kids alone are 2k a month. We are probably never going to retire but wouldn't change a thing.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
Wow!!! Lots of great response. Thanks a lot each of you. Now I got a pretty good idea!!
I will try to write a response to each of you if you asked a question or have some confusions. But one of the common questions I saw was related to travel & shopping. Yes we do travel and spend $10-$12K on an average per year which is $1000 per month. For shopping (when each items cost > $1K) we spend $3000-5000K per year on an average. But the reason why I didn't use these two as a category that not a lot of people spend significant amount of money in travel and I wanted to get some feelings for usual day to day expense.
And I didn't want to include saving part (regular saving, 401k, IRA, etc) as a monthly expense. I hope that clears out some confusions.
I will try to write a response to each of you if you asked a question or have some confusions. But one of the common questions I saw was related to travel & shopping. Yes we do travel and spend $10-$12K on an average per year which is $1000 per month. For shopping (when each items cost > $1K) we spend $3000-5000K per year on an average. But the reason why I didn't use these two as a category that not a lot of people spend significant amount of money in travel and I wanted to get some feelings for usual day to day expense.
And I didn't want to include saving part (regular saving, 401k, IRA, etc) as a monthly expense. I hope that clears out some confusions.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
This looks highish. We have 2 smartphones and cable internet for about $100.harikaried wrote:dreamer wrote:Phone + Internet: $160
I'm currently using T-mobile unlimited data plan for two lines which is $100 and Cox internet (extreme) for $49.. I didn't find a better or cheaper option for my requirements. But please let me know if there is something I need to consider instead of Tmobile+Cox.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
Mortgage/HOA: $1400
Electric/Gas/Water/Trash: $350
Phone: $50
Car fuel: $200
Car Insurance: $80
Health Insurance: $700
Life Insurance: $25
Education/Clothes: $200
Food/household items: 750
Car Payment: none
Car Sinking Fund: $200
Christmas/Birthday Sinking Fund: $100
Vacation sinking fund: $200
Total Expenses: $4255
Family size: 7
Electric/Gas/Water/Trash: $350
Phone: $50
Car fuel: $200
Car Insurance: $80
Health Insurance: $700
Life Insurance: $25
Education/Clothes: $200
Food/household items: 750
Car Payment: none
Car Sinking Fund: $200
Christmas/Birthday Sinking Fund: $100
Vacation sinking fund: $200
Total Expenses: $4255
Family size: 7
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- Posts: 2613
- Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2012 2:47 pm
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
What are your requirements? Do you know on average how much data, voice, text you use across the 2 lines each month?dreamer wrote:I'm currently using T-mobile unlimited data plan for two lines which is $100 and Cox internet (extreme) for $49.. I didn't find a better or cheaper option for my requirements. But please let me know if there is something I need to consider instead of Tmobile+Cox.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
No, but I wanted to know if my average expense is usual and tried to find out that I'm not expending more than others do. I would try to save if those figures look too much. But based on your comment, it looks like it's normal.DVMResident wrote:This looks very normal for the area.
We also live in SD. Married, 1 infant child. Very similar budget, rolling 12-month expenditure is $4996. Our rent is higher by $650, which nearly accounts for the difference.
Is there a reason you want your budget lower? Not meeting your savings goals?
Savings is denial of needs/wants. If you're going to deny yourself, you should have a good reason.
----
Looking at your budget, nothing looks overly extravagant. Rent isn't going to get any better.
The car payments, phone service, and debt are eating into your cash-flow and keeping your costs up. When the car payments and debt (student? CC?) payments are done, you'll have a lot less fixed costs.
Thanks a lot for sharing those options. I will definitely try some of them.Mongoose wrote:You could probably shave off about $60/month on the phone/internet. Switching to a service like Republic Wireless has saved us a lot.
What is the car situation? Do you have 2 cars? I would sell that car and get one you could afford- ie, a car with no loan. If you were really serious (assuming you have 2 cars) sell one and bike more often (California is great for this).
Doing that would eliminate your $560 payment, lower your auto insurance (guessing here but maybe by $36?), lower your gas by maybe $75-$100? It would also improve your health.
With the phone and car that should give you about $700 that you can add to savings.
Food actually dosnt seem bad even with eating out- about 500 for 2 eating healthy is good.
400 for "waste" (entertainment/and misc) isn't all that terrible either. Could maybe try to drop that by $100 per month if you wanted to squeeze.
First month would be break even for the 2 $150 repub wireless phones you would need and the $500 bike you may need to buy.
Probably hard to get much lower on rent in San Diego but maybe if you have a spare room you could get it on Airbnb a few nights a month to help pay for that cost?
Yes, actually some of those items I categorized them as "Misc" (clothes, cleaning supplies and household sundries, gifts, life insurance (if any), haircuts and personal care, clothing/shoes, etc) in my report.kenyan wrote:By and large you seem to be doing ok, though it does seem like you're missing some categories - car maintenance, medical/dental costs, clothes, cleaning supplies and household sundries, gifts, life insurance (if any), haircuts and personal care, clothing/shoes, travel and vacation, donations (if any), etc. Maybe all of that fits into your 'Misc' category, but I think it's possible that some of that hasn't been accounted for, and since the costs aren't as regular you might not be tracking them.
Aside from that, the 'easy' places to look are at your phone/internet bill and eating out, as others have mentioned.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
If memory serves correct DW and I spend about $4K/month but that varies a lot due to travel, vacations etc. Since our usual income stream is quite a bit more than that, I seldom follow the figures too closely.
Part-Owner of Texas |
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“The CMH-the Cost Matters Hypothesis -is all that is needed to explain why indexing must and will work… Yes, it is that simple.” John C. Bogle
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
I think the reason it's low because of our consumptions. I get free lunch at my work most of the days and during weekends sometimes we eat out. So if you want to know how much we spend in food per month then it will be + of the following two categories:Random Poster wrote:I'm having trouble believing that people have $200 - $300 monthly grocery bills for two people.
My wife and I budget $600 a month for groceries, and our 11-month average is in the $530 or so range. We eat well, but not spectacularly well--which means, we aren't eating organic wild-caught salmon every night, but we try to eat a fish dish one night and a beef dish another night and a vegetarian dish another night and so on.
And, now that I think about it, when we had to stock a pantry with all new items due to a move, we dropped $700 easily on just basic canned goods, staples, condiments, and the like. To say that one's grocery bill is in the $200 to $300 range ignores, I think, the basic set-up food costs that allows for a lower monthly grocery bill in the first place.
Grocery: $250 - $300
Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $150-$200
So which is roughly around $400-$500.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
I traded in my car 6 months back and got a new one (Nissan Pathfinder) that's why it's little bit high but low in maintenance. :FelixTheCat wrote:I live in San Diego. Your numbers look like mine. We are paying for the perfect weather here in our beach community.
Why is car so high? Get a pre owned car and pay it off. My SUV is eight years old. Eat at home and bring food to work. That's 760 a month right there.
Nothing to be jealous here. As I mentioned already, we are just two and and I wouldn't expect my monthly expense will be same after having two kids.yellowgirl wrote:Wow, so low expenses, I'm jealous. Our daycare + diapers,wipes+health ins, deductibles and other misc. on two kids alone are 2k a month. We are probably never going to retire but wouldn't change a thing.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
< 1000 mins per line is our average but we do need unlimited data or at least 5 gb per line. That's why we picked T-mobile $100 offer which is unlimited talk, data for 2 linesharikaried wrote:What are your requirements? Do you know on average how much data, voice, text you use across the 2 lines each month?dreamer wrote:I'm currently using T-mobile unlimited data plan for two lines which is $100 and Cox internet (extreme) for $49.. I didn't find a better or cheaper option for my requirements. But please let me know if there is something I need to consider instead of Tmobile+Cox.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
I see one reference to a pet (and accompanying expenses) in 45 posts. Hard to believe.....
I've got $160/month budgeted for pets - food and vet.
I've got $160/month budgeted for pets - food and vet.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
Thanks a lot for bringing up that data, very very useful!Independent wrote:I could add one more family to the list, but I think I could provide better information by showing the average for all American couples, with no children, and at least one earner.
The first column is the US average for 2013. You look a little below average for the things you list.
160 Phone + Internet: $160
391 Auto Payment: $560
103 Auto Insurance: $86
251 Gas: $150 - $200
352 Grocery: $250 - $300
233 Foods (eating out, office lunch, etc): $150-$200
177 Entertainment, shopping, movie, etc: $150-$200
------------
1,667 Subtotal: $1,446k
Your "Misc" of $150-$200 is far short of the sum of other things that the average family spends.
I'll list them:
267 Furniture, small appliances, cleaning supplies, …
137 Clothing
90 Car maint & repairs
23 Car rental, parking, tolls
257 Health insurance
46 Dental, Eyecare, Hearing Aids
94 Other medical
67 Cable/Satellite services
32 Personal care products
33 Personal care services
37 Education
47 Alcohol
29 Tobacco
237 Gifts to family & friends
147 Tax deductible contributions
52 Life and other pers insurance
246 Travel
------------
1,838 Subtotal
If you're really at $150-$200 for everything here, you're very thrifty. OTOH, you may be overlooking some categories.
Couples who rent spend quite a bit less on shelter than those who are buying houses.
Either:
969 Rent
125 Utilities
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1,094
Or:
1,110 Mortgage
328 HO ins, RE tax
260 Utilities
171 Upkeep
--------
1,868
This information comes from the Consumer Expenditure Survey which gets extremely detailed information from interviews and diaries. The numbers above are the averages of about 1,000 families.
Re: What's your average monthly expense???
Family of 5, little one doesn't cost much as of now, so most of the expenses are on me and spouse and the 15 and 9 year old. All in public schools , pay for health insurance on my own , take my lunch to work most of the time, eat out once a week with family.. All in all am spending around 5500- 5700 per month on average incl health insurance but excluding mortgage.
Have seen my expenses trend up from about $ 4k pm in 2007-2008 to $4.5 k per month in 2010 therefore am looking to see where I am overspending. I have had rising medical insurance and some out of pocket medical expenses as well have taken some Vacation trips In the past few years, that would answer part of it. So overall my discretionary expenses are stable , I think
Have seen my expenses trend up from about $ 4k pm in 2007-2008 to $4.5 k per month in 2010 therefore am looking to see where I am overspending. I have had rising medical insurance and some out of pocket medical expenses as well have taken some Vacation trips In the past few years, that would answer part of it. So overall my discretionary expenses are stable , I think
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Re: What's your average monthly expense???
We spend $350 a month on groceries. About $85 a week. Have never thought twice about it.Random Poster wrote:I'm having trouble believing that people have $200 - $300 monthly grocery bills for two people.
My wife and I budget $600 a month for groceries, and our 11-month average is in the $530 or so range. We eat well, but not spectacularly well--which means, we aren't eating organic wild-caught salmon every night, but we try to eat a fish dish one night and a beef dish another night and a vegetarian dish another night and so on.
And, now that I think about it, when we had to stock a pantry with all new items due to a move, we dropped $700 easily on just basic canned goods, staples, condiments, and the like. To say that one's grocery bill is in the $200 to $300 range ignores, I think, the basic set-up food costs that allows for a lower monthly grocery bill in the first place.