running money......

**dolphinlfier** · 07-28-2010, 08:10 PM

I read these boards often, and I have learned so much for you all. I have a question that might have already been asked. If so please forgive me.

We just had to purchase a car. We haven't had a car payment in 15 years, so we are havin to adjust to havin this payment each month.

My question is...how much money do you have to "run on" each week/month? Or do you have money to "run on?"

**Russ** · 07-28-2010, 08:18 PM

I admit, I do not know what you mean by "run on". Do you mean money for expenses or gas or...

**dolphinlfier** · 07-28-2010, 08:47 PM

I mean after all your bills paid.

Money to "run on", for gas, groceries ect.....

**Libby** · 07-28-2010, 08:52 PM

Are you trying to figure out what our budget limits are and what we've allotted for each budget category? Everyone's budget is tailored to their needs.

If you're looking to figure out how much you spend monthly, you should try to get a receipt for everything you buy, pay credit cards/loans etc. Things paid with cash and issued no receipt, just make a running list on paper to add up later. Try to group the receipts by category - basically track your spending.

After two - three months worth of receipts, add up category totals and divide by three = avg monthly spending amt which you could use to try to spend equal to or less monthly.

Does that answer your 'run on' amt question?

**Momto5RN** · 07-28-2010, 09:50 PM

everyone answer will be different based on where they live- kind of work they do how far they drive to work - milage their car gets # of people they feed etc .

we spend 565 for 7 of us and a bunny for groceries ( food cleaning paper beauty etc )

i looked up for my area to see what a family my size would get in food stamps if they had no income- it was 1065$ so i think i am doing fairly well considering thats almost dbl what i spend.and i can do less if i need to .

Gas for me ranges 20$ to 40$ a week depends on how many patients i have and how far they are ( i do home care )

for my dh he pays a 4$ toll daily and at least 75$ a week on gas as he drives 40 miles each way .

basically my budget is always figured out this way bills paid first ( includes gas because we cant work without it ) and leftover gets used for food - allowances -and debt pay off.

**peanut** · 07-30-2010, 03:25 PM

Hmm... maybe you're trying to come to terms with the terms 'disposable' and 'non-disposable' income. Non-disposable income is money already spoken for that you spend on necessties. Disposable is what's left over to spend on whatever you want.

Our non-disposable is $1600CAD/mth. Our disposable, after we put money into savings, is about $400/mth. We consider groceries and gas non-disposable. We need them to live/earn a living. They are $400CAD for groceries a month and $160/mth. for car gas and repairs (also non-disposable).

**dolphinlfier** · 08-02-2010, 03:29 PM

I don't think I have ever heard of it as disposable and non disposable income. So I guess that is what I am talking about... Thank you.

Do you ever worry about not making it, or needing something that you can't afford? We combine our incomes together(me and my husband) we really need to start saving more. I think our biggest thing is deciding the difference between our "wants" and "needs"........

Things are gonna be tight around here......so I will be havin lots of questions. Thank you all for your comments.

**Syn D** · 08-02-2010, 03:43 PM

I budget all my bills together, that includes gas and food..

After paying bills and setting aside the money for the food, gas, and extras (dinner out twice a month and cigs) we have no disposable income.

Our gas budget is $120 a month for 2 vehicles. I put that money on a WalMart gas card as our WM has a Murphys gas station,, using the card saves us 3 cents a gallon every time.. Depending on any trips we need to make, we have some $$ on the card to spare, which we save on the card in case another trip has to be made..

Our food budget is $500 a month (food, cleaning, personal, etc items) for a family of 4.. I want to increase the amount that goes towards food, without taking from another budget, and that's how I found this site.. I figured if I can go down on cleaning, personal, etc. prices I can add that savings to the food.. I figured it out and I have been spending at least a $150-$200 on non food items.. Most all are necessities, but that is to much to take away from food as we run short the last week to week and a half of the month..

**Inkstain82** · 08-02-2010, 03:52 PM

I get nervous if I'm living on more than 70% of my income.

Our mandatory yearly expenses, divided by 12, comes to about $2100 a month. That's about $500 higher than this time a year ago, but a lot of stuff has crept up on us, plus we have an 11-month-old now.

Our income was about $2,600, but that just didn't leave us enough margin, so my wife picked up a paper route and I'm working at McDonald's on my days off. Now we're looking at $3,150 a month, and that feels a little better.