As a reminder, my husband pays the "big bills" like mortgage, phone, and electricity. I pay for groceries and the pets and that somehow evens things out.
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Pets ($687.75) - Hannah had a vet appointment where she got vaccinations, an annual exam, and a couple of pokes at some relatively fast growing bumps (seem benign - basically the doggie equivalent of cystic acne). Both girls needed food (Zelda needed both wet and dry food because SHE'S A PRINCESS) and we got litter twice.
Groceries ($648) - We gotta eat. Dr. BB took Costco this month, so add $250 on to this if you want to know the true household cost.
Health ($301) - I have to pay with my HSA for my periodontist appointments out of pocket.
Gifts ($288.60) - So many gifts this month! And I was on a shopping spree where I purchased some (probably unnecessary) greeting cards.
Bills ($239.77) - Car and home insurance and water.
Savings ($200) - You know what? I increased this already in April.
Personal care ($113.56) - Hair cut and some lotion.
Clothes ($96) - I purchased some new underwear. Yes, it's expensive, but if it touches your skin, it's important.
Eating out ($34)- I had lunch out one day and coffee a couple of times. YOLO.
Cars ($32.82) - Filled up the new car with gas once.
Fitness ($10) - This was my donation for the Zumba class.
Entertainment ($3.75) - Parking when I visited Madison.
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What was your largest expense in March?
Nice greeting cards are totally necessary - fun to send and lovely to receive.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest expense was paying car insurance. We pay it off at once for 6 months as we get a discount. But it's a lot. 4 older cars, with much mileage, ->$4000. It has gone through the roof lately. Cars are expensive, parts are expensive, so insurance expensive. We'll probably shop around for quotes for new insurance, but not until the summer.
You know what? I agree with you. Greeting cards ARE necessary.
DeleteWow! We only insure two cars and we get a discount because we don't go 5000 miles a year with one of them. I'd have to look for sure, but I think our car insurance is about $60 a month for both cars!
I am very happy to tell you that travel was my largest expense for March. Long weekend in Kentucky + lodging for my California trip in May. I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteAgree to disagree that the cards were unnecessary!
Yes! Spending money on experiences is a great way to do it!
DeleteMy biggest expense, always and forever, was groceries. I also had my Nutrafol expense (I get it in six-month increments to save shipping costs), and I bought a few new clothing items like jeans and an insulated raincoat. I support your underwear purchase - cheap underwear is never worth it!
ReplyDeleteI long for the days when groceries will consistently be my top expense. LOL. Oh, well. I love my girls, so I can't complain about it too much.
DeleteNext month I think I'm going to buy one or two pairs of shoes and it's going to be expensive. And maybe some new bras. And maybe a new dress or two. Egads. Where do I think this money is going to come from?
Of course Zelda is a princess! She deserves wet and dry food, AND treats! (Now you know why my cats are chubby.) As always I think you're incredibly frugal. I haven't looked at the Marche expenses yet, but I'm pretty sure our grocery bill went down. That's what happens when you stop cooking decent dinners!
ReplyDeleteHa! Zelda does NOT get treats. That's where I draw the line. She is a princess and we need to keep her in fighting shape.
DeleteGroceries! I am nervous about prices increasing even more.
Groceries! Groceries, Engie. They're our single biggest cost each month.
ReplyDeleteHey, aren't you glad you don't have a pampered dog and a pampered cat?
DeleteMy biggest expense in March was in the household category (utilities and repairs) -- largely from an 1800 electrical repair. Second was what I paid the accountant for doing taxes! Very interesting. I have definitely had my period of high pet bills in the past -- eventually I set up an account I feed into every month for the cat -- food, puppy pads, vet, etc -- so I don't have to take it from the regular household!
ReplyDeleteUgh. I do not like to hear that. We have early 1900s wiring in our house and I think someday we're going to have to deal with it.
DeleteI could take pet expenses out of our savings if I had to, but I like this because I feel like I get a better handle on how much we're really spending (A LOT).
Your new car is paid off, Yay! (I'm so proud for noticing that :) )
ReplyDeleteMy biggest personal expense in March was the 100 I donated to my OWN birthday fundraiser, then friends donated 900 more, so it's all good.
Ha! I wish $100 were my biggest expense. I feel like EVERYTHING is more than that these days.
DeleteGreeting cards are a wonderful way to spend money and to send joy out into the world - and we need more joy in the world. My biggest expense was definitely groceries. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI fear that the price of groceries is only going to go up...
DeleteI really want a dog, and then I see these posts and remember just how expensive pets can be. SIGH. My biggest expense in March was my daughter's birthday - Ulta/Sephora/Champagne/Food/fancy restaurant dinner. Well, groceries was more than that, so I'll say groceries, but otherwise...birthday. My husband's birthday is coming up, but thankfully he doesn't use a lot of spendy products, so putting together a nice gift bag won't break the bank. He's turning 60 though, so his party might be kind of expensive...we'll see.
ReplyDeletePets ARE expensive. At least the way we do pets is expensive. I don't think everyone spends this kind of money, but our girls are worth every penny. (I have to tell myself this because otherwise I have to admit we made a terrible financial decision with them. I mean, an absolutely great decision for mental health, but...)
DeleteYay! A milestone birthday! Fun stuff!
I think pets are a terrible financial decision, full stop. There are years when you get by with just an annual vet visit and food, but then there are years where that is NOT all. And then there are the meds, and the grooming (our dogs needed professional grooming, we couldn't really handle that hair on our own and I never learned how to trim nails).
Delete(Also, fully worth it)
Delete(Also, I didn't even bring up the expensive vet situations that we both know about all too well)
DeleteChildcare is always our biggest expense and will be for at least the next year+. But it's worth every penny. I will be so glad when Will moves over to the public school pre-K program as we don't LOVE his daycare to be honest. It's fine I would say? He's safe there and enjoys his time and the teachers/management is nice but there is so much turnover in teachers. The public school program has way more consistency - maybe better pay/benefits? Not sure.
ReplyDeleteDaycare teachers do get paid peanuts. I think he'll be fine academically since you do so much enrichment with him at home! If he has fun and friends at daycare, that's good enough, right? At least, that's what the education literature says.
DeleteOur biggest expense is probably the marketplace insurance for me; I've got to find a job soon so I can ditch this ridiculous expense.
ReplyDeleteEgads! Why do we live in a country with health insurance tied to employment. It's insane!
Delete$3.75 for parking isn't bad at all. Either you were only there briefly or found a real cheap garage I don't know about!
ReplyDeleteIt was for a few hours at the State Street Garage. It wasn't a crazy charge, but I account for every penny!
DeleteI once read to always spend money on anything that is between you and the ground - so shoes and mattresses. I guess that also means my yoga mat? But your underwear spending philosophy reminds me of that.
ReplyDeleteI think our biggest expense this month was, surprisingly not childcare, but either getting the car repaired or finally ordering window treatments for the living room. Window treatments are always shockingly expensive to me.
Anything that touches my skin is worth spending money on, in my opinion. Socks and undergarments are worth the price!
DeleteWindow treatments are so expensive. My husband broke a blind in our guest room and we haven't fixed it because I know it's going to be pricey! But it does look trashy and I'd like to get it fixed before the next time a guest wants to use the room!
My largest expense? Probably leasing a new car an all the costs that will come our way.
ReplyDeleteLunch and multiple coffees for 34$ seems very budget friendly. I feel like its this for just one meal these days.
I am very frugal when I eat out. LOL. I do not understand how people can eat out on a regular basis, but I guess most people don't have a dog and cat who are as pampered as mine are.
DeleteMy biggest expense this month was paying off my LASIK bill! I am so glad to have that debt paid off, though. I didn't like it hanging over my head.
ReplyDeleteI am grateful to have two very low-maintenance cats. I know that could change, but right now, it's just one vet appointment a year for both and their food/litter/treats, which are not TOO crazy.
For many years, Zelda was very low maintenance and inexpensive. But at about thirteen, things really went off the rails. Oh, well. She's an adorable princess who deserves all the best things.
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