https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:01:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-non-budgeted-money-to-have-to-spend-each-month#post-55333 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:39:47 +0000 daniellemybelle 55333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't really budget our spending outside of bills, savings, and debt payments. I want to, but my excuse is that our lifestyle varies so much month to month that it would be hard. Really, its just easier not to. </p> <p>Right now we are putting an extra amount towards debt payments every month, and we're also setting aside an amount each month towards vacations we have planned this year. That has made things a little tighter. After those things and bills, we usually have about $650 leftover each month, but that has to go to things like gas and groceries. After those things, I'd say we have about $200 of discretionary money each month, and we spend almost all of it on eating out and entertainment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-non-budgeted-money-to-have-to-spend-each-month#post-55294 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:03:02 +0000 CameronsMomma 55294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Rent is 340, phone is 85, internet is 50, visa and mastercard 30/55, OSAP is 75 (when I have to pay it again), and if I get a bus pass that's 75. So total is 710. I get 800/month from maternity, so about 90 is what's left. That's all groceries as the hubs rarely buys food, or didn't before we were both off.</p> <p>He has rent, phone, OSAP1 (but his is 255/month) and OSAP2 at the same amount, bus pass (94), and his visa (apx 100). So he pays out about 1130 every month. And he makes about 1250/month on unemployment. He does start a new job Monday though, and he'll be making probably about 2000/month so we'll have more for groceries, and the little one. </p> <p>We'll also start saving up for a car at that point, and be working on our debts more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-non-budgeted-money-to-have-to-spend-each-month#post-55250 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:57:19 +0000 Crisark 55250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We spend roughly $2,100 monthly in rent/utilities/food/gas, So we end up with probably $800/ $1,000 or so extra for anything else we miss or need.<br /> We don't just "shop" for the fun of it very often. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-non-budgeted-money-to-have-to-spend-each-month#post-55234 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:31:42 +0000 tequiero21 55234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>technically we budget. but we do go over. and it's mostly in the food area, unfortunately. we go out to eat a lot. but my goal in 2012 is to keep the food budget under better control. (cooking more, eating out less).... last year, we blew the budget, but that's because we bought some big ticket items... my husband has worked hard and hasn't bought anything nice, so last year was the time for nice things. we're not planning to get anything nice this year - except a bunch of baby items... i'm budgeting $5k. i'm hoping i don't have to go over that. lol. well, that's not even including diapers. ahhh! too many expenses! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-non-budgeted-money-to-have-to-spend-each-month#post-55137 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:24:27 +0000 looch 55137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't budget "cash," we budget for things like groceries, clothing, daily commute/travel, etc. If I do a grocery run midweek, that gets added to the regular grocery budget. If I get a salon service, that's budgeted as well.<br /> Our budget also includes line items for savings, both short and long term.</p> <p>I rarely carry cash with me, I usually pay with my debit card. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-non-budgeted-money-to-have-to-spend-each-month#post-54805 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:48:52 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 54805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh goodness... we spend way too much on food and misc. expenses each month. We have a budget for each month, going out a couple of years, so I can see how an overage one month will affect us down the line (yes, I'm anal about money, I know). </p> <p>We currently spend about $1200 on food (groceries and eating out) each month, and another $1000 on misc expenses. CRAZY!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-non-budgeted-money-to-have-to-spend-each-month#post-54776 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:23:38 +0000 chopsuey 54776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just tried budgeting groceries last month.. didn't go too well. HA. We really should budget spending, but we don't. :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-non-budgeted-money-to-have-to-spend-each-month#post-54773 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:21:34 +0000 yoursilverlining 54773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’re pretty much like HighWire. We don’t keep a real budget, either monthly or yearly. I know what our set expenses are each month, but food and entertainment can vary widely. If you are looking to save more, I would suggest setting aside the savings first, instead of seeing what you have left over at the end of the month. I’ve always been a fan of just having a pre-determined amount directly go into savings each pay period, so I never even touch it. Out of sight, out of mind. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-non-budgeted-money-to-have-to-spend-each-month#post-54771 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:18:31 +0000 DillonLion 54771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>After we pay all our bills and contribute to our savings, whatever is left over is ours to do as we wish, either separately or together. We don't track it at all. And it works for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-non-budgeted-money-to-have-to-spend-each-month#post-54755 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:41:46 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 54755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like others have said we have a budgeted allowance for each of us to spend however we like. We don't usually have an issue with going over budget, but it can be hard to save our allowance and wait to purchase the things that we want. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-non-budgeted-money-to-have-to-spend-each-month#post-54746 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:32:06 +0000 banana 54746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Similiar to Goldlocks1107! We budget around $400 for groceries, $400 for going out, and $200 for whatever we want to spend. I also get an additional $200 for my own spending needs (makeup, haircuts, clothes, shoes, etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-non-budgeted-money-to-have-to-spend-each-month#post-54744 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:31:46 +0000 Goldilocks1107 54744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>And we used to go over budget semi-regularly, until I implemented a "track it on a week-by-week basis" rule so we could see if we were getting close to going over. Once we bump up against the ceiling of our budget, anything extra we want to do that month has to come out of our individual discretionary funds to cover the difference. Otherwise, we were racking up a huge individual fund (because we carry over the remaining balance month-to-month) while never hitting our household budget number. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-non-budgeted-money-to-have-to-spend-each-month#post-54743 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:30:16 +0000 mediagirl 54743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We budget everything, including groceries, so our "play money" is for eating out and whatever else we may want that month. We give ourselves $100 each to play with. It's hard, but it's worth it. We'll have our house paid off in 11 years. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-non-budgeted-money-to-have-to-spend-each-month#post-54741 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:29:49 +0000 Goldilocks1107 54741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do a monthly budget and reserve the following funds each month:<br /> $400 - groceries<br /> $400 - socializing/dinners out<br /> $150 - discretionary spending (think Target)</p> <p>Plus, we each get $150 in individual discretionary funds so I can feed my shoe fetish and DH can get tickets to games/play poker with his buddies.<br /> This will probably be drastically changing in the future, since baby #1 is due in May. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-non-budgeted-money-to-have-to-spend-each-month#post-54735 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:12:58 +0000 lola2011 54735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bump!</p> <p>Also, maybe I should re-word this to say,<br /> Do you budget for the year and if so, do you find it easy to stay within your budget? If not, in what areas do you tend to go over?<br /> I don't know why no one responded so I'm just trying to get an idea. Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-non-budgeted-money-to-have-to-spend-each-month#post-54128 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:43:10 +0000 lola2011 54128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I are just financially planning for the year and looking at our 2012 goals. I've created a budget that includes debt payments, living expenses (including housing and utilities), education savings for our baby on the way, insurance, dry cleaning, and transportation costs as well as cell phones, internet and other monthly bills. After all is said and done to reach our 2012 goals we will have to live off of roughly $680/month for food, entertainment and pet expenses. This figure does not take into account savings goals or "extra money" throughout the year recieved in gifts, tax returns etc. We live in Canada so health expenses are covered. This also doesn't include a travel budget because two of our three big trips are paid for this year already, and our third trip is mostly scheduled to be on points. I'm just curious how this lines up with other peoples livable funds monthly. I live in a HCL area, so that may vary a bit. How much "cash" do you budget for a month? </p>