by Claire
The $200 each–total of $400–per week breaks down like this:
$100-$125 in groceries. We have 3 boys…12, 13 and 17…and a 7 year old girl…and the two of us…who all like milk! Milk alone is $20-$25 per week of that budget. We eat meals at home with restaurant visits a rarity…but keep in mind that these boys just eat A LOT! Leftovers don’t exist in our house. Great news is they all love ramen and we’ve been stocking up on those at 28 cents each! And I’m finding new and improved ways to cut on the grocery budget each and every week. I do not do coupons and am nowhere near wanting to do coupons.
$120 in gas. The kids’ ages create a lot of running around although we have also reduced this and consolidated a lot of trips in recent weeks to tackle the gas expense. Not that we have noticed any relief with gas prices steadily increasing.
$25/week for a math tutor for one of the kids.
The remaining $130-155 ($65 – $77 each) is used on everything and anything else that may present itself–for example, haircuts, co-pays for medical visits, school fees (pictures, parties, field trip fees), activity fees, birthday gifts for friends’ parties, clothing needs, medication co pays, tutoring @ $25/week, dog food, vet visits when needed…
Say we find a groupon that is indeed a good deal for us (not just b/c it’s cool and a bargain) it comes out of this money too…that might be the closest we do to mindless spending but if we don’t have the cash we don’t get it. That’s a change.
So, some weeks are better than others depending on what hits. I can’t say we do “mindless spending.” I think the last “mindless” item I bought was a yoga dvd on clearance for $7…and I’m using it! Like I said, the goal is to have $ left over. The reality is life brings $5 and $10 needs on a regular basis for ONE kid, let alone 4.
Please let me hear your tips! I obviously have lots of learning to do!
