what is an estimate of your weekly/monthly (personal) budget?

DH and I had a major sit down regarding out finances this weekend...

Excluding:
Rent
Cell Phone
Food (groceries)
Cable
Utilities

How much would you say you spend on personal items (clothing, things with girlfriends, etc) on a weekly or monthly basis?

The reason I ask if because we decided to adjust our direct deposit amounts. DH wanted to close our personal accounts altogether and just have everything direct deposited into our joint accts but I held my ground and insisted that I did not want to close my personal.

Anyhow, 3/4 of my monthly salary will be going towards monthly bills and savings.

ETA: additional examples of 'personal' stuff include bridesmaid related responsiblities, mani/pedi, ya know...stuff like that!

Re: what is an estimate of your weekly/monthly (personal) budget?

since DH is currently unemployed, we're really trying not to spend more than we need.

i probably spend about $50-100 per month on non-necessities ....

but i really only spend money on:
-- shopping
-- going out with friends (we try to stick to affordable place ... or we just get coffee to save money)

can't think of anything else, really...

Re: what is an estimate of your weekly/monthly (personal) budget?

Thanks mor! I am really going to try and stick to a tight budget / increase my awareness of non-necessary expenses....

Re: what is an estimate of your weekly/monthly (personal) budget?

$1 million

not really, but that's what it feels like

i especially need to cut down my cabs because I am OOC

I haven't really been shopping lately...mani/pedis usually once a week (manis) and every other week (pedis)...going out w/ girlfriends is pretty expensive, I usually go out once during the week and twice or more on the weekends.

Re: what is an estimate of your weekly/monthly (personal) budget?

I would say that outside of our mortgage, utilities, groceries, pet supplies...it's about $50-$75 a week on things, each.

Some weeks it's a lot less...some weeks we barely spend any money on 'fun' things. Other weeks might be a lot more, like if we're buying concert tickets or if he gets a new guitar (which is a fairly frequent occurrence; sounds weird but he gets new ones a lot - and sells/trades old ones).

But $50-$75 on average sounds right. I'm not a big shopper at all; I lack that gene.

Re: what is an estimate of your weekly/monthly (personal) budget?

shoes
cabs
rue la la
duane reade- i have a serious problem in that store
doggie toys, accessories and treats
dinners out
vacations
transportation- metro cards and gas
and of course
wine!

Re: what is an estimate of your weekly/monthly (personal) budget?

Our monthly expenses are much higher than I would have ever thought (includes DH's school tuition--you know how much NYU is ) -- but as much as I hate it, mint.com helps us with our finances! We have all our CCs, bank accounts, and investment accounts together so we can see a snapshot of our money at any point. We set monthly budgets and get warnings when we are getting close to our 'limit'--that doesn't stop me from shopping but it helps!

Why don't you suggest trying it out? We still have our personal accounts but we manage our expenses together in mint.com.

Re: what is an estimate of your weekly/monthly (personal) budget?

We probably spend $1,000 a month on non-essentials... going out, gifts, birthdays, tickets to shows/sporting events, stuff I find that I want for the house,manis/pedis, stuff for Darwin, clothing/shoes and other random stuff I can't think of... I guess more if we're traveling.

Re: what is an estimate of your weekly/monthly (personal) budget?

I allot myself $1000 a month for gas, going out, clothes, mani/pedis, etc. DH gives himself slightly less...I'm not sure of the exact amount though.

Re: what is an estimate of your weekly/monthly (personal) budget?

i get paid twice monthly, so I try to put one entire paycheck into savings and the other i spend on food, entertainment, etc. Some months I can do it, others its not possible depending on what we have going on.

I can honestly say that I have significantly reduced my shopping once we got serious on purchasing a house, and even more so now that we are in contract. I rather purchase a chair in my new livingroom than a new pair of choos.

Re: what is an estimate of your weekly/monthly (personal) budget?

We have everything in one account. We put about 3/4 of one paycheck in savings, then the rest goes to bills. We get paid once a month so its kind of nice because I arranged all of our bills to be due when we get paid, so whatever is left is left. At first it was hard, but it works out so much better now.

Re: what is an estimate of your weekly/monthly (personal) budget?

Since we are saving for a house, we try to limit unecessary things. I say 50-200 a month depending. We've been trying to save all of Dinos checks and live on my salary.

Re: what is an estimate of your weekly/monthly (personal) budget?

DH never buys clothes for himself.

i buy something here and there.

i almost never go get mani/pedis. only if something special is coming up or if i'm like in dire need of food de-icking


probably mostly on going out to bar/movies/etc.

we almost never go to concerts or anything.

i'd say $300 a month (liberal estimate. we stay in a LOT) for both of us.

Re: what is an estimate of your weekly/monthly (personal) budget?

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Posted by rdubs

Our monthly expenses are much higher than I would have ever thought (includes DH's school tuition--you know how much NYU is ) -- but as much as I hate it, mint.com helps us with our finances! We have all our CCs, bank accounts, and investment accounts together so we can see a snapshot of our money at any point. We set monthly budgets and get warnings when we are getting close to our 'limit'--that doesn't stop me from shopping but it helps!

Why don't you suggest trying it out? We still have our personal accounts but we manage our expenses together in mint.com.

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I know all too well how expensive nyu is but, i do believe it is SO worth it!

Thanks for the Mint.com lead - I checked it out already and DH and I plan to give it a whirl!

Re: what is an estimate of your weekly/monthly (personal) budget?

After my contribution to our joint expenses, I have about $250/week to spend on whatever I please.

After we buy a house that'll probably go down to $50/week which is a little scary, but honestly I don't really spend my money so I'm hoping it'll be okay.


ETA: The only money I consistently spend a week is $1/day on a diet coke for my lunch.

Re: what is an estimate of your weekly/monthly (personal) budget?