What are your budgeted expenses for January?

Through the month, share your actual expenses and efforts to stay on track.

My expected expenses for January:

Work Expenses

•      $1,200- Fuel
•      $313.32-Truck note
•      $130-   Insurance
•      $30-    Office supplies

Household Expenses

•     $14- Financial fees
•     $60- Auto
•     $450- Food and supplies
•     $245- gas and electric
•     $65- water
•     $110- phone, long distance and DSL
•     $10- Debt, this is the minimum I have to pay
•     $89- Entertainment, TV, subscriptions

I'm not quite ready to post all our figures but based on our income and the expenses I have listed on my spreadsheet, we SHOULD have about $200 more in income over expenses for January. That money should go into my "debt" column (in addition to the $400 I have budgeted to pay on debt in January) but I have a feeling this $200 gets frittered away with small, unplanned (probably unnecessary) expenses. Like a quick trip through the drive through when I forget to pack a lunch, or $5 or $10 for the book drive at ds school or a few birthday cards/gifts. Or it gets eaten up when I go over my $400 a month grocery budget. So we should feel better about our finances than we do, but for some reason, when it gets down to the last day of the month, we will most likely NOT have $200 in our account. Funny how that happens?

But I just realized my income will decrease in January as my new health/dental insurance costs go up over $140 a month. So now I will only have $60 extra looking at my figures and that really is just breaking even when it all comes down to it. But I have to be thankful it isn't in the negative!

Brandy, I thought your dh got a new job? or am I in a  cold fog ? I thought then his fuel costs would go down.

I am going to post my budget and ask for suggestions on cutting- to make the money last- tomorrow-no time today. 

Income:  3112

Mortgage: 936....will pay 1000

Electric and heating: 150

Phone/cable/internet: 100

Insurance:132

Petrol:120

Groceries and supplies: 350

Debt (credit cards, student loads etc:):  385

remaining: 875

Extra will be paid on debt including paying off probally two credit cards, equalling a monthly savings of 35 a month.  A splurge will be made of buying season play tickets at a discounted price. (10 plays for two people at $160, equals $8 a piece per play and a great date night every 6 weeks or so.)

I think that is a big key having a mortgage or rent payment under $1000 per mth and one car only. Up here especially. since we have only insurance company for cars. Here it is illegal not to have insurance.

I'm reluctant to put all nitty gritty details of earnings here, but our mortgage and combined two car payments are just over $1,000 a month combined. ( have had home for 14 yrs, has doubled in value)  Car insurance is mandatory, here,too. Out in the boonies, it would be a hardship  to be a one car family.

 My Family's Interests,

My husband is in the same job he has had since October. He has applied for other jobs but has not had any success with that. I did mention that with the price of fuel decreasing, he is spending less on fuel so I am hoping that holds out for all of January.

Hopefully, your fuel costs do go down! It is such a big chunk of your budget.