Family budget for 130k HHI

[Anonymous]

I'm a single mother of one so it's really only me since my ex pays all expenses for our DS and even college when the time comes. What would you do for a budget for me? My current rent is $1700, $400 in bills, $800 in groceries and eating out, $100 for gas. I put 15% away in 401k + 5% company match. What else should I be doing or cutting back on?

[Anonymous]

What is your net a month? Are you saving to buy a house at all? Are you expecting any raises? How stable/safe is the assumption that your ex pays everything? Your budget seems tight - maybe groceries could be cheaper?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is your net a month? Are you saving to buy a house at all? Are you expecting any raises? How stable/safe is the assumption that your ex pays everything? Your budget seems tight - maybe groceries could be cheaper?

The ex is paying for everything, no worries -- there has already been an escrow account established. I own a house already paid for (the family home) but am renting it out bc it's more home than I need. Will probably sell it in the summer or next year. I net about $7k a month take home pay. No raises expected in the future.

[Anonymous]

800 in groceries seems like a whole lot to me. We have two adults and one kid and we're at about 500.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is your net a month? Are you saving to buy a house at all? Are you expecting any raises? How stable/safe is the assumption that your ex pays everything? Your budget seems tight - maybe groceries could be cheaper?

The ex is paying for everything, no worries -- there has already been an escrow account established. I own a house already paid for (the family home) but am renting it out bc it's more home than I need. Will probably sell it in the summer or next year. I net about $7k a month take home pay. No raises expected in the future.

you married up and did well for yourself

[Anonymous]

How much will your ex be able to save for DS's college? Do you want to put away more money towards that? Do you have enough saved for retirement to be on track to retire or are you trying to "catch up" on your contributions? Do you have an emergency fund?

[Anonymous]

LOL! I need a budget for 70k. Seriously, I do understand that expenses rise with income, but the addition 60k you have would make an enormous difference in quality of life for my children and myself. I pride myself on being frugal and honestly, we maximize quality time together over possessions or fancy vacations. But I worry how I will pay for braces and college. I worry that they will want to go on study abroad in HS and I'll have to say no. I know I need more life insurance, but I can't afford the premiums. So, I kinda wish I had the problem of trying to parcel out $130k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL! I need a budget for 70k. Seriously, I do understand that expenses rise with income, but the addition 60k you have would make an enormous difference in quality of life for my children and myself. I pride myself on being frugal and honestly, we maximize quality time together over possessions or fancy vacations. But I worry how I will pay for braces and college. I worry that they will want to go on study abroad in HS and I'll have to say no. I know I need more life insurance, but I can't afford the premiums. So, I kinda wish I had the problem of trying to parcel out $130k.

I'm with you PP...

[Anonymous]

800 for groceries does seem really high to me. Is most of that eating out?
Make sure you have 6 mos or so of living expenses in the bank. Maybe more (it sounds like you have custody and XDH is just paying support?) - if something happened to you and you were unable to care for DC (how old?) how much would quality care cost?
Do you have a car payment, student loans, etc? Pay them down. Put aside money so you can pay cash for your next vehicle.