Quick Budget Question

[travelbug]

Quick question:

In your month to month budget, do you have a line item for “car repairs/car maintenance” OR do you just take out car repairs from your emergency fund when you take your car in?

I’m changing up a few things in our budget starting in May and I’m just curious how others do this! Thanks

Add your own questions about budgeting if you have any, I know a lot of us enjoy talking budgets and money!

[HoneySpider]

We do not, but I also don't budget specific categories we just have a line item called "living" which encompasses random monthly spending. So if it's something small like an oil change it will just come out of that.

If we have a bigger planned expense, I'll add in a line item and start putting money there so it's designated. If it's unplanned (like last week when we spent almost $400 on a repair on our trip home, ugh) it comes out of savings.

[travelbug]

HoneySpider I really like the idea of having a “living” expenses. That would solve a lot of my issues I’m having in our budget.

Ick, car repairs stink. We had a huge car expense last week too while I was in WI on vacation. Thankfully we use this mechanic all the time so it was cheaper than one in our town, but still... car repairs stink!

[amaranth]

I love the "living" category. I'm way too specific. That makes more sense.

This seems like a good place to note that my husband FINALLY agreed to a lawn service for summer. After 3 years of getting occasional letters from the city about not keeping up our mowing (not his fault, he is SO busy and I obviously can't safely mow with kids around). So I am thrilled. We found a company that does the neighbors who will only charge $20 a week for everything. I think this is a fabulous value, given the tickets are $35     our house is going to be so pretty this year <3

[HoneySpider]

travelbug, boo to car repairs! I mean, you know they are bound to happen at some point, but they still suck.

amaranth, $20 a week sounds like a good deal! I'm pretty sure DH looked into the cost of having someone come back when we were in TX and had a bigger yard and I think it was more than that in LCOL.

[amaranth]

Apr 19, 2018 13:46:09 GMT -5 HoneySpider said:

travelbug , boo to car repairs! I mean, you know they are bound to happen at some point, but they still suck.

amaranth , $20 a week sounds like a good deal! I'm pretty sure DH looked into the cost of having someone come back when we were in TX and had a bigger yard and I think it was more than that in LCOL.

The quotes last year ranged $35-$45 a week, so this is much better. I paid a 13 year old $20 just to mow last year with no trimming or anything. 

[luv2rn4fun]

amaranth- that is a great price! We got quoted $50/month for biweekly service (and our yard is tiny...it would be the front only since the back is concrete and rocks). DH still hasn’t caved. His solution is artificial grass, which would cost about $1500. We argue all the time (mainly I whine because it means I have to solo parent and I feel like I never get a break, which is true...but the grass still needs to be cut) when he has to do yard work. It only takes an hour or so but it’s still annoying.

Our neighbors next to us have the same battle and they just installed real grass in their backyard...meanwhile the H hasn’t touched the front yard in months and we are shocked the HOA hasn’t said anything (or nobody has complained). They also have a 2nd kid due in the Fall and we have warned that it’s only going to be harder to do things like the yard and car maintenance with two kids vs one.

[ewall]

We budget for minor maintenance. We keep ~$300 set aside for our only car. We don't budget for the major services like tires, brakes, rotors, plugs. Since we use YNAB, we usually have enough money in the monthly budget to shift around to those expenses if necessary.

Like I knew the car needed tires so I was setting aside a little each month. Then I went and looked at the dry rotted tires and demanded DH take it the next day for tires. So obviously had to pull the remaining funds from elsewhere!

[amaranth]

luv2rn4fun I think my whining is partially why he gave in. I hate losing more help on our rare family days. Our yard isn't huge but it still takes two hours to do it all (a small front, small side, and normal Midwest back). I'm sure the guys coming will be done in 20min since there are three men with industrial machines.

Best if luck eventually winning the same battle!

[grover]

Yes, we have a line item for car repairs. We only add to it when we think we're coming up to an oil change or repair work though. Should get better about tossing 10 bucks a month in there.

[dragon's breath]

Yes, I have a line item for car maintenance/repairs (I use YNAB 4, I have lots of line items...) I put in a regular amount every month, but if I work OT or something, I'll toss some extra in that category for future expenses like tires.

[ewall]

I'm on board with hiring out lawn maintenance. Having a newborn during the height of mowing season? Fully prepared to pony up the cash for that. Still too frugal for a house cleaner and cable

[pooh8402]

We don't have a line item for car maintenance. It just comes out of checking. Major car repairs come from savings.

We have a house cleaner now so yay. Dh or FIL does our lawn maintenance.

[luv2rn4fun]

Apr 19, 2018 17:13:48 GMT -5 amaranth said:

luv2rn4fun I think my whining is partially why he gave in. I hate losing more help on our rare family days. Our yard isn't huge but it still takes two hours to do it all (a small front, small side, and normal Midwest back). I'm sure the guys coming will be done in 20min since there are three men with industrial machines.

Best if luck eventually winning the same battle!

Thanks! Yeah, our normal lawn care takes a good hour (some of that is because the trimmer is still electric so he has to wind up the extension chord, set it up etc. He has a chordless blower now and is deciding on the trimmer but is hesitant because he wants fake grass).

Winning the battle means caving to fake grass. I don’t mind how it looks but it will be very hot in the summer. I would love for our backyard to be real grass vs rocks and concrete but that’s not happening, especially since I fight on the time for taking care of it. Maybe it won’t be an issue once the boys are in school and I can just do it myself???

ewall- definitely hire out the lawn care! We don’t have a house cleaner either (but I SAH so it’s my responsibility) or cable. DH is cheap (more than frugal)...he goes back and forth on cable and probably would pay for it if I was more into watching tv (the only time I watch tv is if I am spending time with DH; otherwise the tv doesn’t get turned on by me).

[awick14]

luv2rn4fun- my aunt lives in California and she has fake grass. It is SO hot, you can not walk on it in bare feet. (I was there in May 5-6 years ago and I hated it.) I would fake grass an area where you don’t use as often but if the little ones play there then I personally wouldn’t do it.

[travelbug]

Thanks everyone! I am excited to tweak my budget going forward, I love so many of your ideas for the car repair portion!

[travelbug]

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