Budget help

**YankeeMom** · 08-09-2006, 09:41 PM

I need some "proof reading" if you will. I have just finished our new budget, taking into account the CCCS (credit counseling) but not taking into account my new job. What's nice is after crunching the numbers, I technically only need to make a couple hundred per MONTH! Makes me feel a lot more comfortable about being able to reduce my hours if need be. I can make twice that per month only working 2 days a week if I need to.

Anyway, here is my budget. I'm slightly uncomfortable dealing with real numbers, so I will just list what I have accounted for in my budgeting and you all tell me if there's something missing that I've forgotten.

mortgage (includes homeowners ins. and taxes in escrow)
van payment
health ins.
dental ins.
car ins.
cell phones
Time Warner cable/internet
electric/gas
water/sewer
garbage
my cc's (only dh's are in the CCCS for now)
groceries
gas
misc. (this will cover incidentals, birthdays, christmas)
CCCS pymt
savings

Did I forget anything? Anything you all have that I might need to consider?

Thanks

**peanut** · 08-09-2006, 09:58 PM

Clothing and haircuts and footwear.

Looks good otherwise.

Jean

**nodmicks** · 08-09-2006, 10:09 PM

I'll just share with you all our categorys. You never know one might be one you need. I save monthly even if a category like hunting wont be used until oct. That way I don't get hit with a biggie when the kiddo out grew his hunting gear etc

Grocery
gas
kids allowance
electric
direct tv
netzero
land phone
medical savings (for copays etc)
trash
car tags
home repair acct
dh golf
thrift sale$
satellite radio
school lunch/field trip $
pet care (vet)
heating fuel
cell phone
insurance
christmas acct
clothes acct
hunting
car repaIR
mortgage

Whew I didn't realize that was so long !

**YankeeMom** · 08-09-2006, 10:24 PM

See, I forgot about school lunches!
My boys will take a home lunch, but my girls like the school lunches they have ALOT. So that's $13/week just for their lunches

**bumplett** · 08-09-2006, 11:34 PM

do you use a lawn service or pest control service?

**Lorelei** · 08-09-2006, 11:56 PM

Church or other charitable giving
School expenses other than lunches

Good luck with the new budget.

**Daisygirl** · 08-10-2006, 07:25 AM

Looks pretty good to me. What about a land phone line?

**3-boys-4-me** · 08-10-2006, 08:20 AM

Isn't it a great feeling to get everything in order and be comfortable?

LOVE IT!

As already mentioned, they only thing I see missing from your list is your home phone.

**YankeeMom** · 08-10-2006, 09:05 AM

We only have the cell phones.
We don't have a lawn service or pest service (one thing I'm thankful for about being up North, don't have a need for one).
Dh has two charity donations (Children's Hospital New Orleans - where our youngest son had his open heart surgery, and Shriners) taken directly out of his paycheck, so I forgot to add those. I don't even count that money when I look at his take home though, so I won't have to change any of my numbers.

**Cricket1** · 08-10-2006, 02:07 PM

Life or disability ins?

**Valerie in WA** · 08-10-2006, 08:46 PM

Here are my categories:
Regularly occurring:
*Utilities: electric, internet, cable tv, house phone, cell phone, water, trash, newspaper
*Professional Assn dues
Insurance: Life, vehicle
*Auto Pmt
*Groceries
*Gasoline
*Emergency fund
*Savings for things we want (like a kitchen remodel)
*Savings for retirement
*Leisure/family fun
*Haircuts
*Spending money adults
*Allowances kids
*Eating out
*Mortgage (includes insurance & taxes)
*Charitable donations

Irregularly occurring expenses:
*School expenses
*Vehicle maintenance & annual licensing
*Medical co-payments & deductibles
*Home repair/maintenance
*Clothing/footwear
*Household furnishings (things that die - linens, small appliances, etc.)
*Lessons for kids (swimming, gymastics, ballet, etc.)
*Christmas and other gifts
*Vacation
*Major purchases (new fridge, windows, etc)

Because my dh is self-employed, there are a few others:
*Quarterly income tax
*License/Bond/Liability insurance
*Disability insurance
*Tax-prep fees (accountant)
*Client gifts (in addition to our personal Christmas, etc)
*Office supplies
*Tools

**YankeeMom** · 08-10-2006, 09:28 PM

The life insurance is another that comes directly out of dh's paycheck. We don't even see that money, so I don't even count it. Although I should put it down in the budget....

**alabamagirl** · 08-11-2006, 11:37 PM

I enjoyed your food blog - that pizza looks SO good. When I make pizza I've been buying the pizza dough (Pillsbury) in the tube that is at least twice as much as the dough balls you said you get at Walmart. Is this sold with the frozen bread or with the canned biscuits?

Debbie

**Kisobel** · 08-12-2006, 12:58 AM

what about entertainment? i know you are trying to cut down but spending money on yourselves does help your attitude stay positive. entertainment can be anything from- renting movies or playing mini golf.

kate

**YankeeMom** · 08-12-2006, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by alabamagirl

I enjoyed your food blog - that pizza looks SO good. When I make pizza I've been buying the pizza dough (Pillsbury) in the tube that is at least twice as much as the dough balls you said you get at Walmart. Is this sold with the frozen bread or with the canned biscuits?

Debbie

I found ours in the deli section at Walmart SuperCenter. It was over buy the pre-made pizzas

Hope this helps!

Kate, I didn't even think of entertainment. Good idea! And if it doesn't get spent, one month, I can put it towards a "real vacation fund"