We spend around 18K a month, where does it go?

[Anonymous]

Why do your kids need $500/month in clothes? And does your house really need to be cleaned 2x per week? I mean if you can afford it then go for it I guess. But we make pretty decent income and I don’t know if we spend more than $500 per year on kids’ clothes (but mine are young and we get a lot of hand me downs from family). Maybe it changes as they are teens.

Even so, I bet I spend $500/year on clothes and accessories for myself. But I’m somewhat minimalist and just buy one or two nice items every so often. I don’t like filling my house with stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We make good money and I can see how you end up at these numbers:

Children - I know people think $500/month for 3 kids clothing is high, and I agree you can definitely do it cheaper with Target/Old Navy, but that's $160/month per kid. At Nordstrom, a girls dress can be $40-$50. Jeans- $30-$40. A pair of sneakers- $40-50. A winter coat- $50-80. No, my kid doesn't need new shoes or a coat every month, but 4-5 pieces of clothing/shoes can add up quickly. I regularly go through the kids clothing and discard stained/ripped/worn clothes and replace them- 4-5 items a month is a lot, but not ridiculous.

Food and Dining - I would bet the $2k on groceries includes a lot of pre-prepared foods. I usually grocery shop on Tuesdays and pick up dinner from the Whole Foods prepared options that night. One Whole Foods prepared dinner for 5 people can be $50. Do that a few nights a week, plus other food, and it adds up quickly.

Home and Property- $300/week for a housekeeper does seem high, but if she does two 8 hour days, that's $18.75/hour, which seems in line with the market.

Shopping - $2500 does seem like a lot without a more detailed breakdown, but heck, if a weekly trip to Target is $100-$150 per shot (paper towels, laundry detergent, pharmacy supplies, poster board and markers for a school project, and yes, a few ridiculous things that seemed like a good idea at the time) that's $400-600/month right there.

Add in a medium size household purchase or two (maybe you only buy a vacuum every 5 years, but there's always something breaking/looking worn out- a new iPad or iPhone, blenders, frying pans, toasters, deck chairs, storm doors, dishwashers, etc)- say $300-500/month.

For adult clothes- a sweater or dress from a nice brand at Nordstrom, plus tailoring- $300. A pair of leggings at Lululemon- $90. DH tends to shop twice a year, but spend $2-3k a shot (nice suit, a couple of new dress shirts, maybe a new pair of shoes), so say that averages $400/month.

So right there, I'm up to $1500-1900 a month, and it doesn't feel like excessive overconsumption. Yes, we could buy "lower quality" stuff (and yes, I recognize that sometimes we are just paying for the recognizable brand name), and yes, I could make do with less, but I'm not buying bags and bags of clothing a month.

Holy storm door....how many iPads and frying pans and toasters are you all destroying every month? It sounds like you barely use the kitchen so what are you doing with that toaster anyway?

I don't know, we had one iPad and bought another for distance learning last year at ~$1000- so two months of "household" shopping. And now the older iPad has a cracked screen, so we'll probably replace it soon. My iPhone 6s battery finally gave up the ghost in January and a new iPhone 12 Pro was $1200. We replaced our 3-4 year old non-stick frying pans a few months ago (after watching Dark Waters) with "GreenPans"- $200. We just bought a new storm door for the back door- $800, so another two months of "household" shopping. It just feels like there is always something that costs between $300-$1000/month.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Whenever someone says they spend $500 for kids clothes PER MONTH and then lists "Amazon Prime" as a monthly expense of any significance, I wonder if they are really drilling down on the budgeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We make good money and I can see how you end up at these numbers:

Children - I know people think $500/month for 3 kids clothing is high, and I agree you can definitely do it cheaper with Target/Old Navy, but that's $160/month per kid. At Nordstrom, a girls dress can be $40-$50. Jeans- $30-$40. A pair of sneakers- $40-50. A winter coat- $50-80. No, my kid doesn't need new shoes or a coat every month, but 4-5 pieces of clothing/shoes can add up quickly. I regularly go through the kids clothing and discard stained/ripped/worn clothes and replace them- 4-5 items a month is a lot, but not ridiculous.

Food and Dining - I would bet the $2k on groceries includes a lot of pre-prepared foods. I usually grocery shop on Tuesdays and pick up dinner from the Whole Foods prepared options that night. One Whole Foods prepared dinner for 5 people can be $50. Do that a few nights a week, plus other food, and it adds up quickly.

Home and Property- $300/week for a housekeeper does seem high, but if she does two 8 hour days, that's $18.75/hour, which seems in line with the market.

Shopping - $2500 does seem like a lot without a more detailed breakdown, but heck, if a weekly trip to Target is $100-$150 per shot (paper towels, laundry detergent, pharmacy supplies, poster board and markers for a school project, and yes, a few ridiculous things that seemed like a good idea at the time) that's $400-600/month right there.

Add in a medium size household purchase or two (maybe you only buy a vacuum every 5 years, but there's always something breaking/looking worn out- a new iPad or iPhone, blenders, frying pans, toasters, deck chairs, storm doors, dishwashers, etc)- say $300-500/month.

For adult clothes- a sweater or dress from a nice brand at Nordstrom, plus tailoring- $300. A pair of leggings at Lululemon- $90. DH tends to shop twice a year, but spend $2-3k a shot (nice suit, a couple of new dress shirts, maybe a new pair of shoes), so say that averages $400/month.

So right there, I'm up to $1500-1900 a month, and it doesn't feel like excessive overconsumption. Yes, we could buy "lower quality" stuff (and yes, I recognize that sometimes we are just paying for the recognizable brand name), and yes, I could make do with less, but I'm not buying bags and bags of clothing a month.

Holy storm door....how many iPads and frying pans and toasters are you all destroying every month? It sounds like you barely use the kitchen so what are you doing with that toaster anyway?

.

I like the way dishwashers are just thrown in as well. Another month, another dishwasher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We make good money and I can see how you end up at these numbers:

Children - I know people think $500/month for 3 kids clothing is high, and I agree you can definitely do it cheaper with Target/Old Navy, but that's $160/month per kid. At Nordstrom, a girls dress can be $40-$50. Jeans- $30-$40. A pair of sneakers- $40-50. A winter coat- $50-80. No, my kid doesn't need new shoes or a coat every month, but 4-5 pieces of clothing/shoes can add up quickly. I regularly go through the kids clothing and discard stained/ripped/worn clothes and replace them- 4-5 items a month is a lot, but not ridiculous.

Food and Dining - I would bet the $2k on groceries includes a lot of pre-prepared foods. I usually grocery shop on Tuesdays and pick up dinner from the Whole Foods prepared options that night. One Whole Foods prepared dinner for 5 people can be $50. Do that a few nights a week, plus other food, and it adds up quickly.

Home and Property- $300/week for a housekeeper does seem high, but if she does two 8 hour days, that's $18.75/hour, which seems in line with the market.

Shopping - $2500 does seem like a lot without a more detailed breakdown, but heck, if a weekly trip to Target is $100-$150 per shot (paper towels, laundry detergent, pharmacy supplies, poster board and markers for a school project, and yes, a few ridiculous things that seemed like a good idea at the time) that's $400-600/month right there.

Add in a medium size household purchase or two (maybe you only buy a vacuum every 5 years, but there's always something breaking/looking worn out- a new iPad or iPhone, blenders, frying pans, toasters, deck chairs, storm doors, dishwashers, etc)- say $300-500/month.

For adult clothes- a sweater or dress from a nice brand at Nordstrom, plus tailoring- $300. A pair of leggings at Lululemon- $90. DH tends to shop twice a year, but spend $2-3k a shot (nice suit, a couple of new dress shirts, maybe a new pair of shoes), so say that averages $400/month.

So right there, I'm up to $1500-1900 a month, and it doesn't feel like excessive overconsumption. Yes, we could buy "lower quality" stuff (and yes, I recognize that sometimes we are just paying for the recognizable brand name), and yes, I could make do with less, but I'm not buying bags and bags of clothing a month.

Holy storm door....how many iPads and frying pans and toasters are you all destroying every month? It sounds like you barely use the kitchen so what are you doing with that toaster anyway?

I don't know, we had one iPad and bought another for distance learning last year at ~$1000- so two months of "household" shopping. And now the older iPad has a cracked screen, so we'll probably replace it soon. My iPhone 6s battery finally gave up the ghost in January and a new iPhone 12 Pro was $1200. We replaced our 3-4 year old non-stick frying pans a few months ago (after watching Dark Waters) with "GreenPans"- $200. We just bought a new storm door for the back door- $800, so another two months of "household" shopping. It just feels like there is always something that costs between $300-$1000/month.

Ok. Apple has you right where they want you. You all are certainly doing your part for the economy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Waging a war against aging is futile. I'm glad I have no interest. But we digress...

OP - you are spending a lot, but it seems within your means. If everything you are spending money on brings you joy, then there is nothing wrong with it. You could clearly cut $2-5k/mo, but you seem to understand that as well. As long as you aren't sacrificing anything (e.g. earlier retirement) then carry on

Exactly. OP says they spend tons and they know it do what is the point of this thread?

So people like you will respond and gasp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Waging a war against aging is futile. I'm glad I have no interest. But we digress...

OP - you are spending a lot, but it seems within your means. If everything you are spending money on brings you joy, then there is nothing wrong with it. You could clearly cut $2-5k/mo, but you seem to understand that as well. As long as you aren't sacrificing anything (e.g. earlier retirement) then carry on

Exactly. OP says they spend tons and they know it do what is the point of this thread?

So people like you will respond and gasp

Yup- tiny dopamine got to fill OP’s empty consumerist existence.

Or she could be trolling which is even sadder!

[Anonymous]

OP. That is your answer. Get rid of all the stupid stuff like clothes and i pads and up that entertainment/education budget. You can do whatever you want so do something better the DCUM. Please! For the rest of us shlubs.

[Anonymous]

Your mortgage seems high to me, but other than that, we are similar. Our mortgage is 2,000/mo, but right now I'm sitting in a beautiful slopeside condo in Jackson, so if you spread this trip alone across 12 months that an extra 1,500/mo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey OP, did you know clothing is reuseable? You aren't supposed to throw it in the garbage after the first time you wear it. You can launder it and wear it a whole bunch of times! You're welcome.

LOL. And you don't even have to launder it yourself! You can pay someone to do it for you (I knew you'd like that).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is strange. It would be relentlessly time consuming to spend that much money every month... especially the clothing, shopping and personal expenses stuff. Doesn't this consume a lot of time or do you pay someone to spend that for you?

Lolol time consuming? How is clothes shopping time consuming? Ski season alone we drop a ton up front doe our 3 growing kids. Any idea how much boots, boards, goggles and all the warm gear costs?

I personally do Nordstrom trunk club because I've found a personal shopper I love. Some months I easily spend 1k on clothes. Throw in a new handbag or pair of boots and that budget is through the roof.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Twice weekly housekeeper?

How's this dramatic? We have someone who comes 5hrs a day 5 days a week. She runs errands, grocery shops, cleans (we have weekly deep cleaners), meal preps, and organizes. I spends exactly zero time doing things I don't like doing. Well worth thr money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Twice weekly housekeeper?

How's this dramatic? We have someone who comes 5hrs a day 5 days a week. She runs errands, grocery shops, cleans (we have weekly deep cleaners), meal preps, and organizes. I spends exactly zero time doing things I don't like doing. Well worth thr money.

Omg please how did you find her and how much do you pay.We are dying for something like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is strange. It would be relentlessly time consuming to spend that much money every month... especially the clothing, shopping and personal expenses stuff. Doesn't this consume a lot of time or do you pay someone to spend that for you?

Lolol time consuming? How is clothes shopping time consuming? Ski season alone we drop a ton up front doe our 3 growing kids. Any idea how much boots, boards, goggles and all the warm gear costs?

I personally do Nordstrom trunk club because I've found a personal shopper I love. Some months I easily spend 1k on clothes. Throw in a new handbag or pair of boots and that budget is through the roof.

IKR? Just hire someone to do all that. They can order it for delivery and take care of returning any rejects and can also take all the brats shopping or do all the ordering for them as well. Providing jobs and getting all that shopping done. Win win.