Here is a sample monthly budget. It was our actual monthly budget for 2006. It was based on a total after tax income of $2486.00 per month. At the time, we lived in Wichita, Kansas and owned our home, a 1600 sq. ft. 3 bedroom, 2 bath bi-level on 1/2 acre.
A couple of notes about the budget:
- Our credit card debt was at 0% interest. We had to buy a "new to us" used car and our son had medical problems when he was born. Those were put on the card to save interest that they hospital and doctors would have charged.
- All eating out was included in the Social-Entertainment category.
- Our grocery budget included food only. Our food budget was for two adults and 3 children, 8,7 and 3. I buy almost everything at one store and stock up buying only sale items from other stores. I can get paper goods cheaper at Wal-Mart than the grocery store, so I buy them there.
- At the time of this budget, we did not have medical insurance, which we estimated would cost $400 a month. (Note that there was $400 available in the budget for that expense.)
|
Monthly Budget |
|
| INCOME-after tax | |
| Mike’s check | $2483.00 |
| Tawra’s disability | $348.00 |
| TOTAL INCOME | $2831.00 |
| EXPENSES |
| Tithe (church donation) | $300.00 |
| Food | $250.00-300.00 |
| Mortgage (Includes taxes and insurance. Also includes an extra $30 every month toward principal.) | $855.00 |
| Sewer, water, and trash | $30.50 |
| Phone | $50.00 |
| Electric and gas (on the high side) | $200.00 |
| Gas for car | $120.00 |
| Credit cards (car payment and medical) | $100.00 |
| Internet (The book pays for it.) | $00.00 |
| Uncovered Medical Expenses | $75.00 |
| Wal-Mart (includes all paper goods, some clothes, soap etc.) | $125.00 |
| Clothes (mostly from yard sales and thrift stores) | $30.00 |
| Stamps | $6.00 |
| Car insurance | $50.00 |
| Car repairs and tags | $75.00 |
| Haircuts (Tawra and Elly) | $20.00 |
| Presents-birthdays, etc. | $50.00 |
| Social and entertainment | $30.00 |
| TOTAL EXPENSES | $2416.50 |
Do you need tips on how to budget? Check out our post on How to Budget and our Easy Downloadable Budget Forms.
Thank you for posting your budget! It is very helpful to see your actual expenses. Does your budget now look the same or similar?
I had just a few questions. How do you pay for home improvements and repairs? Do you and Mike have any personal spending money? How do you pay for your garage sale purchases? What about kids activities?
Thank you for taking the time to read this!
Betsy their budget is pretty much the same now. Some things have gone up but others have gone down. Tawra and Mike don’t take any personal money like an allowance or anything. If they need something it is included in with the Wal Mart money. They also use Christmas money or birthday money to buy things with if they don’t need it for bills. They try to keep about $2000 in savings for home improvements and use things like tax returns or extra money like rebates etc. for that. Kids activities well they aren’t in many and usually are limited to one. Most of the activities their kids are in aren’t expensive. If the kids want to be in more they have to pay for it themselves. Garage sale purchases comes from her regular shopping money (like the Wal Mart money) or birthday money.