Budgeting/spending

[Anonymous]

The thread about where to budget alcohol got me thinking. We don't really budget, so I don't really know what we spend on medicines, groceries, etc. I spent a few weeks trying to figure it out last year, but much of my shopping was done at Target where everything gets lumped together. Then I would get cash for the babysitter while checking out so it was hard to break everything down unless I instantly went online to do so (which I didn't). How do you break this down? I don't have a laptop, only an iPad, so any tracking programs would need to be done via iPad. That is, if I need to be that specific. How do I start this? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Most of my expenses are static so I just had to record them over a couple of months to get the bulk of my expenses into my budget correctly (car, mortgage, preschool, utilities, commuting,etc). I allocate $150 a week on groceries. I organized everything in an excel spreadsheet, but could've done it on a piece of paper. Every two weeks I take $200 for my miscellaneous expenses (things that aren't in my budget - coffee, house stuff, lunch with a friend, babysitter). This is how I track what I spend and keep my impulse purchases at bay while building my savings.

This is my low tech approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of my expenses are static so I just had to record them over a couple of months to get the bulk of my expenses into my budget correctly (car, mortgage, preschool, utilities, commuting,etc). I allocate $150 a week on groceries. I organized everything in an excel spreadsheet, but could've done it on a piece of paper. Every two weeks I take $200 for my miscellaneous expenses (things that aren't in my budget - coffee, house stuff, lunch with a friend, babysitter). This is how I track what I spend and keep my impulse purchases at bay while building my savings.

This is my low tech approach.

Should note - the $200 is in cash. Everything else that is a specific item in my budget is charged or automatic pay.

[Anonymous]

Mint.com, they've got an app.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the input. I guess I just need to dive in and begin and see what questions arise from here.