Dare I say that $2500 is a tall ask?! By the time things like car rego's services, insurance, communication, power etc. are taken into account each fortnight, our budget is pretty close to that and that isn't even starting to think about groceries and unforseens! I am also asking myself the question of the leaking money...it's kinda like how socks always go missing in the dryer!

I suppose what helps is that we really allocate money to everything...even down to possible dental bills (which are always a doozie and unforseen as everyone may know!). We allocate money for incase we need medication, for hairdresser visits, or if the pool floods and we need to sort it out, for example. I even allocate $20 a week because I know that we will need fresh bread and milk top-ups over and above our weekly grocery spend. I find that doing this eliminates that "oh cr**, the towel rail needs replacing" or "whoops, we have guests coming around and need to buy some extra food" scenario...but in doing so, our fixed costs each month are really high - so I never really feel like we are winning! The upside is that if the unforseen expenses don't become necessary, then that money can be shifted around to other things and/or luxuries on occasion.

The only way that I can control the leaking cash is that DH and I have a deal. DH and I each get $x per month and we can spend it as and on whatever we wish (this would include a treat for DS if we choose, fancy beer for DH, clothing for me etc.). This is in cash. Everything else, if possible, goes on the credit card (so that I can monitor it), which I pay off each month. DH knows that if he has to pick up food or drink (other than during our weekly shop) he HAS to give me the receipt and I add it to our running grocery spend for the week. This is a pain in the bum but i find most of the lost money happens in instances like that!

A good example is that I have really wrecked my back this past week and have required five chiropractic visits. Ordinariy this would just be paid for and it would be disappearing money. Fortunately, because we haven't had any dental issues, the dental money can absorb these costs.

I am rambling and actually boring myself now, but maybe you can glean some tips from our strategies?