Stuff needed to run a household

[Ebbie]

I have a category in my budget called "household" and basically it's for the stuff you need to run a household. Some is for the house itself, some for cleaning clothes or people, and some is HBA but I include it as part of the household stuff. Basically it's anything you need to stock in a house to live day-to-day...stuff that runs out and needs replinishing (in other words, I wouldn't include a thermometer (one-time purchase) but would include aspirin or advil. I've been listing the items in the category as they come to me and I'm amazed at just how long the list has become when I remember everything that's needed.

What does your "household" list look like? Here's my list:

Toilet paper, soap, dishsoap, laundry detergent, conditioner, shampoo, hair dye, powder, makeup, lipstick, chapstick, sunscreen, feminine pads, deodorant, fabric softener, bleach, cleaning products (usually just baking soda and vinegar), moisturizer, plastic gloves, paper towels, razors, advil, dental floss, toothpaste, saran wrap, tinfoil, wax paper, baggies, lightbulbs, leaf bags, garbage bags

[staciah]

I also have a household catagory in my budget but I also have a Personal Care Items catagory. Items such as advil, feminine pads, deodorant, razors, etc. go in that catagory.
My household items would include plants for landscaping, home depot items for DIY projects, etc..

[Drgnfly423]

That's a good idea. I've been trying to think of a category name for this on my spreadsheet. Now I have my answer!

[Marie78]

I think you have everything on your household list that I include on mine. In addition I include dishwasher detergent on mine and vacuum bags. When I set up my grocery budget every month, I include household items, and a section for toiletries, food, and cat food/litter. I am trying to create more of a stockpile of these items so that we don't run out so quickly.

[dcompton]

When I was itemizing the budget (I don't at present) I had three household categories: Consumable (for the stuff like you mention), Non-consumable (for stuff like the thermometer or sheets), and office supply (just because I wanted to track that - it's a weakness!) I kept the H&B stuff under Personal expenses.

[champagnium]

That's a really interesting question! I haven't got a column for it, but I remember when I was setting up lists of what we needed when we moved to our place that I was trying to think of everything we could possibly need for our home..sheets to plastic wrap, shampoo to vacumn bags. Now that I am keeping closer watch on my money, I will have to keep better track of this type of stuff! I'm trying to cut out a lot of paper supplies, so hopefully I can remove that from what we "need" to run our home

[geckoace]

Household MISC is what i call my line
heres what it usually is:Toilet paper, paper towels, hand soap, dishsoap, laundry detergent, cleaning products, saran wrap, tinfoil, baggies, light bulbs, garbage bags, sponges, school supplies

Separate Line for
HBAs: conditioner, shampoo, gel, chapstick, sunscreen, feminine products( although switching to cup), deodorant, moisturizer, razors, advil, dental floss, toothpaste and brushes, diaper supplies

[cab54]

Like Donna, I call this kind of stuff Consumables. Anything that you use up when you use it. From green beans to shampoo to TP. When it's gone, you've consumed it. It needs replacing.

Non-consumables are furniture, clothes, tools, kitchen pots and pans. Yes, eventually they will be too old to keep and maybe can be recycled, but they last a long time with care.

[Frugal Nurse]

huh! I actually never thought of households as TP, advil, stuff like that- I put that on the grocery list.

I considered household items that the house needed. Not what people consumed. Things like sheets, blankets, hooks to hang things with stuff like that.

I wonder if I need to rethink that?

[sdrjeolsen]

I'm more like Frugal Nurse, in our budget I break household down to: Yard, Appliances, Decorating, Furniture, and Misc. But, I'm a nerd. TP, advil and such usually goes on Grocery or just plain ol' catch all "Misc."

[JerryG]

Here's how I track it:

Household: Cleaning supplies, paper products (TP and paper towels, kleenex), stamps, envelopes, paper, soap, toothpaste garbage bags, light bulbs. Basically anything that anyone here can use for what they need. I include toothpaste, sunscreen, toothbrushes except I use special flossers, so I don't put it in this category.

Personal: Lotion that DS and DBF don't use. Nail polish. Female products. Shampoo or conditioner that only I use. If I buy jewelry - Ha! I don't wear make up. The "special" flossers go here cuz' no one else will use them.

Clothes: Again, I separate who it's for. Bras, shoes, clothes for me. Anything I buy for someone else.

Medical: all pills and I even detail who needs it. This includes the meds for my freakin' athlete's feet (which is an anomoly - I'm not an athlete - but I gotta buy meds for my freakin' feet)

Household maintenance: paint. blinds and window screens. sheets and pillows.

Household improvement: replace fixtures, plumbing, electrical, etc. any purchase of an appliance or something like a power tool I need.

[nuisance26]

~
Home: lightbulbs, batteries, pesticides, sheets, air-fresheners, cleaning supplies, laundry supplies, small improvements under $25, stamps, office supplies, garden, fresh flowers, kitchen items, small appliances, ect.

Home Improvement: improvements over $25

Personal:All external body care items excluding medication, TP, tissues, haircuts

Medical: co-pays, prescriptions and OTC meds

Other: This is where I would record a large purchase that was most likely a replacement for something we already had that was broken, like a new vacuum. If I was upgrading to a whole house vacuum it would go under improvements. :-)
~

[Ebbie]

Stamps and batteries! Two things I forgot on my household list. Enjoy reading all your lists because it twigs me on things I forgot that do need replinishing.