What Category Would You Put These in Your Budget?

**Russ** · 07-14-2010, 03:09 PM

One thing I've learned, and this may sound sneaky, but any savings or success we have, I give the credit and MANY THANKS to my wife. Even if it's both of us.
It makes her more aware when we do well and I think it makes her try to do even better the following month. Be sure to thank your spouse for ANY effort regardless of how small it may be.

I look my wife straight in the eye and say" I really appreciate the efforts and sacrifice you are making to help reduce our debt. *big kiss* thanks hun."

QM · 07-14-2010, 04:52 PM

Thanks for your help, everyone! My July expense list is looking pretty good. I'm missing about 4 receipts (that DH should have), but once I get them I'll be up-to-date.

Another question is that we buy 1/2 a cow from a local farmer (about/I think) every 9 months. Of course, I'll put the purchase in the food category, but how will I know what we spent in a month on groceries? Do we have to wait a full year of tracking these expenses to have a better picture? How do I make a budget after 3 months with this huge meat expense throwing off the food category?

**Russ** · 07-14-2010, 05:07 PM

If you are certain it lasts you 9 months, divide the total by 9.

QM · 07-14-2010, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by Russ

If you are certain it lasts you 9 months, divide the total by 9.

I'm not certain. I think it's about 9 months. Maybe I'll just divide the expense by 9 and see where it put us.

I'll do three months of tracking the expenses, then try to make up a rough budget. Is that how it's done?

**Russ** · 07-14-2010, 08:02 PM

yes, thats a good start.
Do you have your monthly bills averaged over the past 3 months?

QM · 07-14-2010, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by Russ

yes, thats a good start.
Do you have your monthly bills averaged over the past 3 months?

Nope!...But I'm going to by the end of September.

I'm working on entering every receipt by day into categories on Excel. I've started to set up categories (Groceries, Household, Auto, Clothing Personal) with breakdowns to those categories (for Food, so far they're Groceries, Timmies, Alcohol and Personal Care). It's nothing fancy, but it's a start to get me on track...and it totals it all for me.

**Russ** · 07-14-2010, 09:13 PM

you can take the last 3 months bills..
example:3 electric bills and average them as your starting point.
Same with phone, water, etc etc etc

nothing fancy is necessary, mine is in Excel as well and it lists average numbers.

QM · 07-15-2010, 10:30 PM

On your budget worksheet, what category does 'kids toys' go in?

**khaski** · 07-19-2010, 09:59 PM

Under grocery OR under 'other'. I always have an 'other' category to help cover those 'surprises'...it's never much, maybe $5-20 a week, but it fills in all the little things that creep up (you know, you forgot so and so's birthday was this week, you need to get a card, that kind of little thing).