Budgeting

smange10.10

I know we've discussed this before....does anyone have an actual spreadsheet that they've used or are currently using for a monthly household budget?  -for bills, groceries, dining out, dog food, etc etc etc...

if so, do you find it helpful?  do you stick to it?  do you use it religiously or more as a guide?

TIA

gracie2762

For a while I was doing the envelope method where you put a set amount of cash in an envelope addressed for certain things like groceries, gas, pet supplies, etc... I've been broke lately so I haven't bothered doing it but it seemed to work well. You can't spend more than what is in your envelope until your next payday and if you have any leftovers you can just add it to your budget for next time or put it in savings.

pantsarella

We use Mint.com, where you can set up budgets and it tracks your purchases and puts them into each budget area. It works really well for us because we use credit cards for everything. If you use a lot of cash, the envelope system might be a better way. 

But our budget is more of a general frame of reference. We try to stick as close to it as possible, but DH works overtime which isn't always predictable, so there's some wiggle room. But if we both had regular salaries, it would be more strict.  

linzee

i'm not good with a budget at all.  i need to make us a new one, it hasn't been updated in years.  i think the last one we did had Kira still in daycare on it.

i'd probably vomit if i tallied up all the money we spend eating out.