Figuring out Finances

 My phone died last week. My budget was on it. I try to stick to a budget. Chris usually blows my theoretical food budget when he goes grocery shopping but I don't do the greatest job at sticking to it either. I have had to increase our food budget. Even though it is hard to stick perfectly to a budget, I find having a budget written down can help one spend less and be more conscientious of their spending. 

Monthly Budget after paying taxes, EI, benefits deducted from paychecks, etc and tithing, babysitting.

Mortgage - 1150 (katherine - k)

Auto/gas/maintenance - 1300 (k - 600)

Food/shopping - 1300   (chris - c)

Clothing - 60 (c)

Personal care - 60 (c)

Yearly expense account (property tax1200, insurance 4800 dentist 840, etc) - 600 per month into yearly expense account. (c)

Car insurance 200 (c)

Cash - 100    (k)

Utilities/phone - 700 (c)

student loans - 250 (c)

Home improvement - 50 (k)

Kids RESP - 50 (c)

School - 50 (c)

Date night - 100 (k)

Animals - 100 (k)

Kids activities - 100 (k)

orthodontist (starting Sept 2024) - 100 (c)

kindergarten (starting sept 2025) - 80 (k)

Interest Free loan for windows - 350 (k)

Extras - 100 (c)

6800

Income tax return will go towards family fun, Christmas/birthdays, travel, allowance and big expenses. (5000 or so). 

 If we ever had to make the payments on the garage instead of Nathan it would be another $500 a month so I would pick up 2 extra shifts for that a month. If it comes to it. 

We need to put some money aside for fixing up the basement which really needs new concrete floors/walls.  And I pay $150 or so a month in babysitting. Oh goodness, the bills keep adding up but I am grateful for all that we have and for all that we have been able to do. 

side note

I like to think about budgets. If we were really in a pinch, a good budget would be:

mortgage - 1150

Auto/gas/maintenance- 650

Food - 1100

clothes- 50

personal care - 50

yearly expense account - 600

Car insurance - 200

utilities/phone - 700

student loan - 250

Kids resp - 50

school - 50

animals - 100

Interest Free loan - 350

orthodontist - 100

Kids- 100

$5500