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.
July was a weird month. I spent part of it in Michigan, part of it in Seattle, and part of it in California. So what I'm saying is that I traveled more than usual. Honestly, I traveled more than I did all of last year in one month. As a consequence, my eating out budget is insane, but it's coupled with an incredibly small grocery budget.
However, there was more travel (the end of the California trip and another trip to Michigan) in August, so the "travel" expenses will continue next month.
Here's how it broke down.
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Entertainment ($12.65) - This is my Spotify subscription.
Gifts ($158.10) - Postcards and the like while traveling, the bag and snacks for the friend who was leaving, and gifts for our cat sitter.
Cars ($196.20) - Gas and things, including some oil when I was in Michigan and the check oil light came on.
Savings ($200) - Lol.
Clothes ($200.58) - This is the cost of the permanent bracelet I got while I was in Seattle. I wasn't actually sure what category to put it in (travel? entertainment? - there was a hot debate about this when we were in Seattle), but it landed here.
Personal care ($251.71) - Hair cut, pedicure, random TSA approved items all add up.
Bills ($259.48) - Water/sewer and insurance.
Groceries ($271.52) - This is honestly half of what it usually is because I just wasn't home to go to the store.
Pets ($364.76) - Food for both of them, litter for the cat, heartworm treatment for the dog (a six-month supply), and we also had to get a topical medication for Hannah for flea and tick because she couldn't wear her Seresto collar while boarding when we were out of town.
Eating out ($473.19) - This is crazy. It also includes $80 cash that was miscellaneous cash while I was in Seattle. We ate out in Seattle a lot and we ate well. I have no regrets. This, combined with my grocery spending, is more than I'd usually spend on food in a month, but YOLO.
Travel ($490) - One overnight in a hotel, transportation costs while in Seattle, and money I gave our host in Seattle for letting us stay with him.
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If you stayed with a friend when you vacation somewhere, would you pay them?
I wouldn't pay a friend for visiting, but I'd probably bring a little gift, or buy dinner or something of that nature. And conversely, I wouldn't want someone to pay me while they are visiting me. But I will always happily accept a small gift!
ReplyDeleteI did buy him dinner, too. What I paid him was probably the equivalent of one night in a hotel. Imagine all the $$$ he saved us!
DeleteI agree that the gift is a great idea (or often we will pay for a group activity and a meal out for everyone when we visit). I don't think I've ever actually given cold, hard cash to someone? But we're most often staying with family or close friends. I'm not good at coming up with practical gift ideas, hence paying for experiences/food!
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm just unsentimental about it. Everyone can use more cash!
DeleteYep- this all sounds about right. Eating out is so expensive, and Seattle and CA are expensive places. But worth it- YOLO is right.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever paid a friend for staying with them, but on the other hand, I can't remember the last time I traveled and stayed with a friend! I would probably offer to pay for a meal out, or groceries or something. But if you offered cash and your friend accepted, then the dynamics of your friendship made that the right course of action.
Eating out is so expensive. I have a couple friend who eats out at least 2-3 times a week and I don't know how they pull it off!
DeleteI've never given money to anyone for staying with them, be it friend or relative, but I will pay for a meal out and often cook meals (or parts of meals) at their home if they're amenable. I'll also send a gift later, or if we've gone somewhere like a wine tasting, I'll buy them a bottle or two of very nice wine.
ReplyDeleteI think the food thing is very fraught for me. We would not eat out with people and no one is cooking in our kitchen (lol - we're so pleasant), so I try to think of non-food ways to help out. A lot of these things wouldn't even occur to me.
DeleteSame as everyone - I don't 'pay' but either pay for a meal or tickets to something and/or give a gift. I guess there could be a reason that cash is more welcome, and if someone indicated that was the case I would have no issue doing that.
ReplyDeleteHe absolutely did not ask for anything! We wrote a note in a card and stuffed it with money and left it on the bed when we left. He didn't even notice it until weeks after we left!
DeleteWhen I go to visit Younger Son and family for 2 or 3 nights, I always take groceries and beer or wine. And the kids favourite potato bread that isn't available where they live. If I visit friends, I wouldn't pay money, but I would take out for dinner, or get a meal in, or take them to a concert....
ReplyDeleteSo many of these are food-related! I know we're different about food in my house, but food really is the universal language, isn't it?
DeleteHmmm. I'd never thought about paying a friend for staying with them. Like the others, I'd be more inclined to buy meals, groceries, gas, etc. And of course, a gift. But it was generous of you to give your friend money, and it sounds like he was a good host!
ReplyDeleteHe was such a good host. I recommend everyone stay with him!
DeleteI would not pay a friend for hosting me, but I would bring a meal (I’m thinking of when we have stayed at a friend’s lake house) or a gift. It does stink to pay for meals while traveling, but I love that you have no regrets.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently trying to imagine the awkwardness of someone bringing a meal to our house. Maybe we should never invite anyone to our house.
DeleteTravel is expensive, but so worth it. Would I pay a friend for letting me stay with them? If it weren’t awkward, and if it were appreciated, why not. I don’t think it has ever come up, but we haven’t stayed with that many friends.
ReplyDeleteI probably wouldn't have paid if I was staying with one of my really close friends, but I honestly hadn't seen him in more than a decade, so it seemed like maybe it was worth acknowledging that we're friends, but not FRIENDS, you know?
DeleteI think paying the person you're staying with is a very nice gesture, but I probably wouldn't do it myself. I would absolutely pay for gas, some meals, admission to attractions/events, etc.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't pay someone for staying at their home, but I do try to pay for one of their meals or get them a small gift. This reminds me of my last girls' weekend when I stayed with a friend. There were three of us and every time we got dinner or breakfast or whatever, one of them would pay for all of us. I TRIED paying for one of the meals but they wouldn't let me. Sigh. It's hard having generous friends.
ReplyDelete