How much are your monthly expenses?

[Anonymous]

We are a family of 4. 2 adults and 2 kids. Both kids are in diapers.
I have been tracking our expenses since the beginning of the year to keep our costs down and save more since we had only a 3-4 month emergency fund and in times like this I want to be as close to a 1 year emergency fund as possible.

We are a one-income family and I find that we are spending about $1500 on average each month between food, groceries, diapers etc. Some months it has been as high as $2000.

Does this seem about average? How much are your variable expenses costing you a month?

[Anonymous]

That's not too far from what we spend. We spend a little less but only have 1 child. I've got us on a budget that we're doing an OK, but not great, job at keeping to. We spend $150/week (600-750/month) on food - includes groceries and takeout. $100 for baby stuff - diapers, clothes, toys. DH & I each get $100/month for random spending - lunches out, haircuts, whatever. $200/month for miscellaneous spending and about $200/month for gas. There's another $50/month to take care of dog expenses (food & toys).

[Anonymous]

4000

[Anonymous]

about 5,000/mo. Everything, including mortgage.

[Anonymous]

$1600 mortgage
$500 groceries
$600 misc. (Costco, Petsmart, Target)
$350 utilities
$1400 nanny share
$175 eating out or carry out

Around $4600 a month! Wow-I never added it up!


No credit cards or car payments.
2 adults 1 toddler.

My husband is a miser and good money manager. The reason our mortgage payment is low is because we put $300K as a down payment.