Well I tracked my spending last year for 10 and a half months. I stopped in November when Excel no longer let me input numbers. I purchased Excel and have the CD but no longer have the product number so the CDs were useless.
Anyway, this is what 10.5 months looked like for me:
I spent approximately $2800 on my car!! Eeek, hopefully less this year. No major car repairs *crosses fingers*
I spent just over $600 on eating out. Most of this was spent in the summer months when D and I went on more dates.
I spent a little over $300 on food. Most of this in the summer and early fall when I did a lot more baking.
I spent about $1000 on CLOTHES?!? Eeek this cannot happen again. I did buy some shoes, and a couple of coats last year but I can't even REMEMBER any other big ticket items! That is just sad.
I spent just under $200 on Education which includes my membership fee, applications, etc.
I spent about $1000 on Personal/Medical which includes prescriptions, dental, make-up, hair. I don't think this will change for 2011.
My phone was about $550. This will likely go up for 2011 if anything if I decide to get a new phone and I added text messaging to my plan last summer.
I spent about $800 on GIFTS. Eeek that seems high too. But I include when I take someone out for lunch or dinner. Also had birthdays, special occasions and a close friend's wedding.
The worst one was $1500 on what I labelled "Everything Else." I cannot even tell you everything that this contained. It was mostly entertainment though (books, going out, drinks, wii and board games, gym, fabric, crafts, toys, movies). Definitely too high. I need to track this one better this year.
I paid off $5000 in debt!
I made the most money in April (income tax!) and least amount in January.
I spent the most money in May. I saved the most money in April and the least amount in January and June (tied).
Hopefully I can do better in 2011!!
This is absolutely why I track my spending. So I can see the big picture in a year and go: WTF??? :)
ReplyDeleteI really want to track my spending for 2011. First I have to figure out how to set up that kind of a spreadsheet! I really think it will help me see things in perspective.
ReplyDeleteThat certainly gives you a great visual to see how all those monthly expense puzzles fit together.
ReplyDeleteI started listing out what I labelled as "MISC" in my spreadsheets. SO enlightening! Maybe you should too?
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part is the paying off $5,000 of debt part! Good job. :)
ReplyDeleteYou only spent 300 on food?!?! Luckee. Thats what I spend in a month. You did great this year!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ashley look at the big picture, you did really well.
ReplyDelete$300 for Groceries this intrigues me !!!!!
I have just realized that you live at home, so it,s inclusive with your board, my apologies....
ReplyDeleteAP - I think that I will start to write down what I actually spent in that section. It was just too high last year!
ReplyDeleteYeah the living at home definitely keeps the grocery budget down.