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Do you know what the only thing on this list I spent over $10,000 was? Our pets.
Pets ($10,442) - And this doesn't even account for any appointments my husband handled. This is roughly double what it would have been if we hadn't done the radioactive iodine treatment for Zelda. If anyone in the US gets a new pet anytime soon, you should get pet insurance before the pet has been in your home for twelve hours. I wish I had done it with both of ours.
Groceries ($8288) - About $22.70 ($11.35/person) a day to feed us. That seems like too much.
Cars ($2627) - New tires for both cars this past year, a couple of oil changes each, and regular gas stuff. We're going to try to keep both cars going for as long as we can without buying a new one, so we'll see what happens to this number next year. The VW will probably need new brakes soon.
Clothing ($2128) - I don't know. This seems reasonable to me considering I need to buy for all four seasons and workout clothes. I basically had to buy all new winter gear this year (a new winter coat, a new fall coat, AND new winter boots) and I won't have to do that again for many years.
Gifts ($2046) - It is what it is. This is probably horrifying to some people. I include all greeting cards and postage in this category, as well. My records show that at least $200 of this is at the post office, for example.
Bills ($1891) - I get off pretty lightly in the bills category compared to my husband. I pay for home and car insurance and the water/sewage and that's all I really ever pay in bills.
Savings ($1860) - Egads. I need to sort out my priorities next year.
Travel ($1178) - Hotel rooms, mostly in Michigan.
Personal care ($1129) - Well over the national average. It takes a lot of money for me to look like a perfectly average, slightly overweight, middle-age lady.
Health ($870) - Most of this is in eye and dental care, including my pricey prescription toothpaste and new glasses and contacts.
Tech ($585) - New earbuds, new phone.
Eating out ($579) - Almost $50 a month. Sigh. Could be better, but you only live once, right?
Donations ($504) - This number, along with my savings, is what I'm most disappointed in this year. If my spending reflects my priorities, I am not a good person.
House ($407) - I expect this to go way up next year. We're considering some massive renovations and there's this thing with the plumbing that maybe someday I'll talk about, but for now, just let it be known that the city is probably going to be handing us a bill for thousands of dollars in the future.
Entertainment ($213) - Reasonable for the entire year, I think.
Fitness ($195) - Also reasonable considering all the classes I go to.
Miscellaneous ($276) - Random shit adds up, yo.
Holidays ($206) - This is just cards. Next year I'll group this in with gifts.
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What's your biggest yearly expense?
Last year was the dreaded basement waterproofing. Big Bucks. Still, it had to be done, and I'm glad we did it before Rick retired. We also tore out our failing backyard landscaping--the black walnut tree behind us claimed ALL the plants and bushes, finally--and put in all grass. Another major expenditure out of the way.
ReplyDeleteThose of us with pets have watched that cash outlay rise exponentially. All pet food is costly, for example. We pay for premium food regardless of the brand. It's nuts.
And good winter boots--which I had to buy this year--are expensive! Still, they'll last a long time.
Ugh. I feel upset about spending money on landscaping. Shouldn't the outside just...take care of itself?
DeleteI think I'll get three or four years hard wear out of these boots. I just have to resign myself to regular expenditures of warm weather gear!
Oof. That is a lot for the pets. But- what can you do. They're worth it.
ReplyDeleteYou spent more in one area than me- clothing. But you probably look a lot better than I do, so there's that. I think your eating out category is incredibly low! And your gift spending is not horrifying to me.
I'm also disappointed in my donations for 2024- have to get better about that this year.
I honestly don't eat out often and I think that shows in the grocery budget.
DeleteI definitely need to do better about donations! Looking at that number makes me sad.
I've been tracking my spending for three years now, and here are my pet $ deets:
ReplyDelete2022: healthy dog: $500
2023: last year of dog's life: $1,500
2024: puppy: $5,000
Most of Doggo's expenses are doggy day care/boarding when we're both out of town. At this stage of her life, she needs time with other dogs, and 3 days of doggy group play a week works the best to manage her energy. If we didn't have the money we would send her less often and I'd be scouring the neighborhood to find her some local friends. As it is, we can afford it so I don't sweat it.
I think your saving/giving rate is great considering the extra costs for pets and the travel to Michigan. These are temporary situations.
$500. LOLOLOL. We spend more than that on FOOD for Hannah, let alone any other expenses that come along. *sigh* Oh, well. She's worth every cent. I just don't know if I'll ever be able to convince myself that I'm the right person for a dog. Maybe I'll just become a foster for dogs.
DeletePet insurance is definitely on our list as we think through when we might introduce another dog into our household; it's something we've never had but have regretted so much during trying times. Lil Momma's activities are the biggest pull on the financial stuff I cover; we are so lucky we can swing having her in so many things she does (and summer programs are a must), but it's super overwhelming when I add it all up.
ReplyDeleteExtracurriculars and aftercare for children is so expensive! And I want childcare workers to make a living wage, so it makes sense, but it also makes it so hard to figure out how parents have to pay for it!
DeleteI'm sorry, Engie, all this is heavy on so many levels.
ReplyDeleteSometimes expenses just are what they are--like what are our options? Could we live with those options? Hugs.
House repairs were probably our biggest expense for ourselves. Since job situations got a bit wobbly, we tripled what we usually give to charities since we don't know what the coming administration and the next year may bring...
Yes, the coming administration is a big part of the problem. There are so many organizations that need money to care for people who need support!
DeleteOur biggest expense is childcare, I think. Which is why I'm so pissed the 5 year old couldn't go to kindergarten early. We also spent a big chunk of money on our rental unit this year to take care of some plumbing issues, which to be honest, I'm not sure it really solved. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteI actually think your food spending is quite reasonable - both for the groceries and eating out! Maybe you live in a less expensive place than we do? I'm always super fascinated by the USDA Food Plan chart where they list out what they think is "Thrifty", "Moderate", and "Liberal" food expenses on and weekly and monthly level. They have the "Thrifty plan" for a adult male at $69.40 a week. Female is $60.20.
https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/Cost_Of_Food_Low_Moderate_Liberal_Food_Plans_January_2024.pdf
I mean, we don't eat very much meat and we don't drink alcohol, so that does cut down on things considerably. We do have to buy some gluten-free foods, though, so that can make things more expensive. I don't know. We have to eat, so we'll keep buying groceries. I verrrry rarely eat out and that shows. If I do eat out, I'm usually buying my mom dinner or something like that.
DeleteTotally agree on the personal upkeep. And the donations - I need to get more organized and systematic about charitable giving, I feel like the twenty dollars here and there is inefficient. The gift budget is not remotely horrifying to me. Lucy's surgery was our hugest unexpected expense this year, but my parents helped.
ReplyDeleteOh, good. I'm glad to know I'm not recklessly splurging on gifts. But maybe some of that money could be donated to good causes. *sigh*
DeleteOh Zelda. :( My personal upkeep went WAY up this year, maybe in response to all the blog posts last year about how much we all spend??? I am with you on the donations. We dropped the ball and failed to donate to two pretty important-to-us causes in 2024. It's at the top of my to-do list this year.
ReplyDeleteI need to do better about regular donations to the causes I care about, too. I might retroactively add it to my yearly goals!
DeleteOur biggest categories were Auto and House, but next year things should look quite different because we will have a LOT fewer expenses in both those categories.
ReplyDeleteLiving is...expensive.
Yes! Your housing costs will be so much lower! 2025 is going to be a great year for you.
DeleteI am way over on the average when it comes to personal care as well. Like, way way over.
ReplyDeleteAww. Zelda. Pets are so expensive, especially when something goes awry.
Your clothing budget seems perfectly reasonable to me!
I'm guessing groceries was my biggest spend last year, but I haven't actually added up the months.
I think my clothing budget is fine. I am not buying fast fashion (for the most part) and my pieces last. But I think people who are used to thrifting, etc. might be a bit taken aback.
DeleteI do think groceries were probably a huge chunk. And food to feed your giant dog!
I think your Eating Out expenses are very reasonable. I shudder to look at ours. Especially when you throw in bar tabs.
ReplyDeleteNot drinking alcohol does benefit my budget a fair amount!
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