Want to see my budget?

[Anonymous]

I would use FSA for medical expenses, don't use ATM for cash unless there's no fee, bring lunch to work, make extra food for left overs, etc... Little bits do add up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much do you make? Where are your savings?

Exactly. This is a pointless exercise otherwise. If you're taking home $12K/month, you're doing great. If it's 8K/month, you have a problem.

We do have $8000/month take home - you are psychic. So we are definitely in trouble. DH took a paycut. I'm very concerned about what to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cut your own grass and save $90/month.

Groceries: $600? How many people in your household? I would start clipping coupons and compare prices to save money.

We are a family of 5 and we easily spend $1000+ on groceries. We rarely eat out but I feel that I spend a lot on groceries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's my budget. Feel free to share tips. Also feel free to rejoice in how much more money you have than us if that's the case. It is what it is. . .

2500 Mortgage
101 Storage
2000 Childcare
725 Student Loans
175 Cell
305 Credit cards
100 Power
40 Trash
20 TV
75 Water
40 Cable
45 Gas
90 Grass
250 Auto Loan
80 Auto Gas
40 Parking
80 Auto Insurance
145 Life Insurance
100 Doctors
60 Vet/Pet Meds
50 Gym
600 Grocery/CVS/Pet
175 Amazon Subscribe/Save
60 Restaurant
150 Shopping
150 ATM/7-Eleven
35 Gifts
120 DH Work Expenses

8311 - TOTAL

The italics are the first things I would cut, why can't you cut these?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much do you make? Where are your savings?

Exactly. This is a pointless exercise otherwise. If you're taking home $12K/month, you're doing great. If it's 8K/month, you have a problem.

We do have $8000/month take home - you are psychic. So we are definitely in trouble. DH took a paycut. I'm very concerned about what to do.

why did he take a paycut.

[Anonymous]

Can you refi that would help with cash flow? Your student loans/mortgage/childcare are killing you. Sure you cut back on a few other things but your fixed costs are so high if you don't get these under control, you are in trouble. How old are your kids? Are you planning to do public school?

[Anonymous]

You live in Pimmit and hire out the grass? That's the laziest thing I've ever heard. What is that, a twenty-minute task?

[Anonymous]

How much do each of you make? Like, what's the split on that $8000?

[Anonymous]

The pet looks expensive.

[Anonymous]

11:36 had good suggestions, I'd add ATM/7-Eleven to the list of possible cuts. What does that mean, exactly? When your budget is tight every dollar should be clearly earmarked first for things you need, and secondarily for things you want.

[Anonymous]

1. Be energy efficient. Reduce heating in the winter, increase A/C in the summer, don't use appliances during the day, turn off lights when you leave a room, install ceiling fans & auto sensor lights where possible.
2. Clip coupons and only purchase what you need. Less waste.
3. Shop around for car insurance every couple years or so to make sure your rate is competitive. It works!

[Anonymous]

what is this?

175 Amazon Subscribe/Save

[Anonymous]

looks like a lot of shopping in between the amazon, cvs, "shopping", etc
Is everything a necessity? Any way to cut down on it?

[Anonymous]

Your combined eating out and grocery bills seem low. I can't get them below $800 for a family of four ($600 groceries, $200 eating out). Is that really all you're spending at the grocery store?

[Anonymous]

What are the $120 in "DH work expenses"? $175 is high for your cell bill, you could cut that. You should also cut that Amazon bill.