Community Chat

[Zoologist_1]

Thought I'd run a really closer look at my spending tonight.

Really trying to be accurate and think of those "one off" things, like the kids' lunch money for school, the $30 insurance rider policy on a diamond ring, gifts for birthdays AND Christmas (then divided by 12 for my monthly budget sheet), etc.

I should have just under half of my gross income total left at the end of each month.

Where's that money going??

For the next 60 days, I'm going to really look at every single dime I put spend on my debit card, and use it more. I'd been getting more ATM cash so I'd not have to keep using the debit card for small purchases (under $20), because I'm paranoid about identity theft. Oh, there's another expenditure I forgot -- $25/yr for ID theft protection thru my State Farm agent.

I'm trying to get some new windows (yes, still....3 yrs of looking/anguishing over wanting but scared to go into debt as a fixed-income retiree with 12 and 18 y/o boys still at home, one heading to college and college bills in August, etc.). Still think I'd better hold off til this time next year - by then I'll have weathered a full semester of college bills, etc., instead of guessing.

Anyway, for the rest of you.....yes, you probably have a ballpark figure of how much you spend/month, but just like guessing how many calories or grams of fat in that muffin, are you really sure? Accurate??