Eating out has gotten more expensive for everyone at a time when even fast food ends up being expensive and at a time when a lot of people are also using a food delivery service, which makes that food even more expensive.

Food. It’s always food. Which is weird since I have lost almost 20 pounds since 2020 without trying and I have not been hungry or sick.

Like everyone else, eating out. We might go out as a family once a month to a decent restaurant, but we were spending way too much on fast casual meals for lunch or even breakfast when I didn't feel like cooking. Also, impulse buys on who knows what household junk. I've been using YNAB since April and I finally feel like we're getting ahead of our budget. It's taken that long to build up a little bit of cushion in various categories.

25k on take out

I love You Need a.Budget, and when I started using it I realized how much I spent on food - specifically, "too tired to cook, too tired to prep, too tired to care" groceries and meals out. I'm an emotional shopper when it comes to food, too. I will spend more on food whenever I have an argument with my spouse it seems.

I also realized how much I was spending on various, automatic monthly subscriptions. It wasn't an enormous amount of money but I wasn't getting any enjoyment from most of them, so I just cancelled everything to see what I missed.

I do not spend much at all on entertainment, clothing and grooming, or travel.

I spend way too much on work supplies (I'm a teacher - I spend on my classroom. Need to stop that!)

Absolutely random Amazon and target. And art for me. Didn’t realize I had a problem there.

Eating out.

Pet care. Walker comes every work day, pet sitting when we travel, vet, Farmer’s Dog.

Health care and housing are most expensive. Followed by travel.

As for unexpected things? Crap for my kids. It was random trips to Michael’s, bday party gifts, new clothes, material for a school project, trips to Barnes & Noble, açaí bowls, etc.

Restaurants