Post by oldienewbie on May 18, 2012 13:06:24 GMT -5
Could your family (DH and 2 kids 5 and 2) live on $800 for 2 weeks. This money would be spent on gas, groceries, shopping for clothes, household items, dr. co-pays if needed, gifts if needed and eating out? Basically anything that is not a bill.
Groceries, clothing, and household items are pretty controllable factors.
The big thing I would worry about would be 1.) how much gas do we need every week and 2.) how often do we have to go to the doctor. $400/week is a lot of money for just food and household stuff, but long commutes and medical issues could really cause some problems.
We could if it's random stuff only. Also, how much on gas? Are you one vehicle or two and how much travelling is required to do what you need to get accomplished? Just be cautious in leisure shopping and spending on toys and fripperies, which was my downfall as a SAH with kiddos. lol.
(I guess could and would are two different things. We could (and I certainly do now) but when I had the kiddo and scheduled activities (horseback lessons, ballet, toddler gymnastics, library, playgroups, etc.) it was less likely.)
Post by soveryexcited on May 18, 2012 13:17:39 GMT -5
I'm in the same situation, me, my husband, 4 year old, 3 year old and two month old and that's our budget. $1600 a month on living (groceries, gas, etc). It works well for us. :-)
How much do you normally spend on those things in a 2 week period? I'm not being snarky; I'm just curious about the responses. When budgets are posted, people are always quick to "OMG" groceries above $300/mo & gas above $150/mo. Maybe those people stayed on TN
How much do you normally spend on those things in a 2 week period? I'm not being snarky; I'm just curious about the responses. When budgets are posted, people are always quick to "OMG" groceries above $300/mo & gas above $150/mo. Maybe those people stayed on TN
Every 2 weeks Groceries $225 Take-out $200 (lunches and dinners) Gas $150
Which leaves about $225 for shopping, dr. copays and gifts if needed. I think that is plenty we just can't go on a shopping spree for random crap, DH on the other hand seems to go into panic mode over it. For instance he wants to buy a $100 picnic table this weekend and I said we really need to wait and put $30 back a week for the next couple of weeks. Explaining to him we would be ok but really need to watch what we spend (eating out) b/c if we do spend that $100 now that leaves us with approx. $125 for other stuff besides groceries, gas and take-out for 2 weeks and I know how you seem to think we are broke if thats all we have for 2 weeks to spend on "other stuff". He looks at it as though we are living paycheck to paycheck but I try and tell him no we put $ into savings every month that comes out of his check that we never see. That is not my definition of living paycheck to paycheck, I see this as living off a budget!
How much do you normally spend on those things in a 2 week period? I'm not being snarky; I'm just curious about the responses. When budgets are posted, people are always quick to "OMG" groceries above $300/mo & gas above $150/mo. Maybe those people stayed on TN
Every 2 weeks Groceries $225 Take-out $200 (lunches and dinners) Gas $150
Which leaves about $225 for shopping, dr. copays and gifts if needed. I think that is plenty we just can't go on a shopping spree for random crap, DH on the other hand seems to go into panic mode over it. For instance he wants to buy a $100 picnic table this weekend and I said we really need to wait and put $30 back a week for the next couple of weeks. Explaining to him we would be ok but really need to watch what we spend (eating out) b/c if we do spend that $100 now that leaves us with approx. $125 for other stuff besides groceries, gas and take-out for 2 weeks and I know how you seem to think we are broke if thats all we have for 2 weeks to spend on "other stuff". He looks at it as though we are living paycheck to paycheck but I try and tell him no we put $ into savings every month that comes out of his check that we never see. That is not my definition of living paycheck to paycheck, I see this as living off a budget!
$450 per month sounds pretty normal for doctor's co-pays, gifts, etc.
How much do you normally spend on those things in a 2 week period? I'm not being snarky; I'm just curious about the responses. When budgets are posted, people are always quick to "OMG" groceries above $300/mo & gas above $150/mo. Maybe those people stayed on TN
I feel like we are not particularly budget conscious and I can't imagine $800 not being enough for 2 weeks.
Gas - $70 Groceries - $170 Eating out, entertainment, etc. - $150?
That would still leave us with $400 or so to cover misc. stuff.
For instance he wants to buy a $100 picnic table this weekend and I said we really need to wait and put $30 back a week for the next couple of weeks.
Well, to be honest I would feel a little insecure if my spouse told me I had to wait three weeks for a $100 purchase, even if the numbers said differently. Can't you say, "Okay, we can buy the picnic table, but then no dinners out until next week" or something?
For instance he wants to buy a $100 picnic table this weekend and I said we really need to wait and put $30 back a week for the next couple of weeks.
Well, to be honest I would feel a little insecure if my spouse told me I had to wait three weeks for a $100 purchase, even if the numbers said differently. Can't you say, "Okay, we can buy the picnic table, but then no dinners out until next week" or something?
Yes, I could but then a few days later when we have both worked all day and DS has a baseball game at 6pm and DH wants to get take-out and I say no b/c we just spent $100 on a picnic table, he then says why don't we have $30 to get take-out? I think the big picture is he doesn't understand how small $20-$30 purchases 2-3x a week add up.
Post by partiallysunny on May 18, 2012 14:00:27 GMT -5
Easily.
Our budget now is (2 weeks): Gas- $50 Groceries (including pet, cleaning supplies, and personal items)- $300 Dinner (H)- $40 Fun Money - $100
What would I do with an extra $310? Birthday presents, doctors appointments, and car maintenance comes out of a misc. savings account, so... I guess I'd save it.
Post by ceceliamarie on May 18, 2012 14:11:55 GMT -5
Yes, after groceries, gas and take out you have $450 for incidentals. Even if he bought a $100 table you would still have $350 for miscellaneous spending...
Post by marchmom06 on May 18, 2012 14:22:18 GMT -5
Yes, for the items you described. But, there would be some weeks where it wouldn't work out in exact two week increments. For example, I pay for swimming lessons quarterly (not monthly or weekly) & it's a huge chunk of change. Same for travel. On the weeks we book our trips (we take maybe 3-4/year), our budget would obviously be blown.
Rather than looking at everything in 2 week increments, perhaps the solution is to build a more flexible account for things that come up on a one-off basis. (Say, $5K or whatever you think you'd need for the year). If the purchase doesn't fit into your 2 week $800 budget, do you want to spend some of your $5K yearly/flex account on a $100 picnic table, or would you rather use it towards a family vacation?