How much do you set aside for 'living expenses'?

[chody47]

I don't consider food to be something we spend leftover money on. Food (groceries) is a budget item. As is petrol.
Lunches are all taken from home (DH can't buy lunch). So that's included in groceries. General spending money is only for eating out, gifts, days out, and other random things.
I think if you lump too much into 'general spending' then you don't really know what it goes on, and where you could save if needed.

I do actually set $ amounts for food and petrol and random things, but I then classify it under the heading 'living expenses'.

I'm not necessarily looking for ways to save on costs (I know that we could definitely save by spending less on 'random' stuff), I'm asking this more out of curiosity.

[danita]

i like divvy dont really budget i just filll 1 to 1.5 shopping trolleys a f/n for shopping usually around $650 for groceries. $200 fuel for my car not sure how much DH spends per f/n we save at least $1000 a f/n i pay childcare a mortgage we go out every friday for dinner and occasionally buy 1 take out meal through out the week, we splurge on things we really want and layby clothes when needed. i usually leave $400 a fortnight for extras that i may not of considered.
we have 4 young children 2 adults and 3 extra children every 2 weeks. i try to do as many cost free activities as possible with the kids and pack picnic lunches. im very fortunate at the moment to live this way.

[~clover~]

I don't have a 'budget', I just pay what's needed & if there's any left, I usually spend it

Rent & most bills are paid through centrepay. Phone/net & insurance are direct debit. Gas, power & anything for school I pay as it comes in. Theres around $150 or so left & that covers those few bills every few weeks easy enough. As long as it all works out with timing. I simply haven't set up centrepay/DD since moving across the country & changing companies.

Food is up to $250 a week, petrol is normally $30 a week, but at the moment sports take us up to 2 hours away every Saturday, so thats an extra $40 odd.

Whats left over might do take away, or I'll buy a pack of ciggies (its generally a fortnightly thing) & a couple drinks, depending on what the friends are up to. And thats about as exciting as it gets!

If we want to do anything more, it takes alot of spaghetti on toast & planning! Or centrelink love

[BellyBelly]

The Millionaire Mind Intensive recommends 55% gets set aside for necessities, I think they have a great formula that I really need to get kicking with, just been thrown off with this surprise bundle, moving and settling. No excuse really! Also something ALL of the wealth/success/business seminars I have ever been to all say the same thing - the difference between wealthy and poor people is this: Poor people pay the bills then save (or spend) whats left. Wealthy people save first then the rest with whats left. They have different values and beliefs about money and the reason for the difference is fear. I actually posted my notes from Dr John DeMartini's money seminar in the money section I think, was a great seminar and made so much sense!

ETA link: https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...me-159089.html

[misty]

After Mortgages, rates, land tax, bills, etc, We are left with about $500 a fortnight (give or take $100 depending Army reserve pay), About $300 is dedicated to food, nappies, toileteries etc, Which leaves $200 a fortnight for anything else, coffee, clothing, school stuff, takeaway, extra bread and milk, etc. It doesn't go very far in a family of 6. Thankfully fuel is already paid as the cars a salary sacrificed, or we'd be really in the red, because we have two cars and my big people mover uses alot of fuel.

[Ambersky]

I take $400 a week cash out, $50 for DD2s day in care, $50 each for DH and I (lunches/coffees/clothes/personal) and $250 for food and all other 'shops' spending. Petrol and bills go on the CC which is paid in full every month. That leaves us a bit of a buffer in the bank for things like last month when the washing machine dies, i could buy another one straight away (Phew!)