Great work estimating your income yesterday! Today, we’ll move on to the next step in creating a sound budgeting foundation: estimating our expenses.
Estimating our expenses is an important step — we all need to know how much we actually spend so we can start planning what we want to spend. But we also need to make sure that what we’re budgeting for is less than the income we’re bringing in. (We’ll worry about that later, though.) For now, let’s focus on estimating. And remember, this is a guilt-free zone — you’re just collecting info right now. The point is to just notice your spending trends and say, “Oh, I see.”
Today’s Assignment
- Estimate your expenses. You’ll need to take a look at past spending in order to estimate successfully. Head to your online bank account and take a look at what you spent last month. If you have multiple bank accounts, be sure to check those too so you can get the fullest picture of your spending. (If you’re already using the Goodbudget app, check out your Spending by Envelope report.)
- Without categorizing individual transactions, how much did you spend in total last month? How much did you give last month? How much did you save? Note: Some of your spending might not be “typical.” Be sure to still include those expenses in the totals above. Transactions that are unusual will always happen, and we want to work towards making space for them in our budgets. The goal here is to just accept the numbers we see in front of us.
- When you looked at what you spent, what struck you? What are your initial thoughts as you look at the numbers? Did you spend more or less than you thought? Did anything surprise you? Share your reflections with us in the comments below!
Note for couples: You can look up your past spending separately or together; just make sure you both take a look at what you find. By the way, if you have kids spending family money, remember to pull that up too.
Happy budgeting,
-The Goodbudget Team
103 thoughts on “Take a Look Back”
Well you see I am FIFTEEN, I have $0 in expenses, nothing struck me, my parents do it for me even when I offer.
Its really good you are taking interest in this now. Dont live your life by the seat of your pants like i have. Always keep your future in mind.
I spent 200.00 dollars on senior pictures and I should have spent that on better things.
I do not handle my own money. My parents do.
I do not spend my money except on very rare occasions. My parents and grandparent pay my expenses.
I do not know if I gave anything. If I did, it should go to the church.
As far as I know, all of my allowance (other than what’s given) goes to the bank, so it counts as savings.
I realize that my parents do a lot for me, so maybe I should try doing it myself.
Thanks for sharing, Leila! It sounds like you’re desiring more ownership of your expenses and money management. The skills you develop now will definitely impact your future and it’s never too early to start learning how to manage well.
I do not have many expenses, if I do have expenses my parents usually pay for them and I put the majority of my allowance in my savings or checking account.
The only times I spend my own money is if I find some clothes I really like or If I am getting food with friends. But, my parents pay my expenses and handle my savings accounts. Nothing really struck me. I have given little amounts of money to my sisters sorority philanthropy, Make a wish. When they are having fundraisers.
I spend allowance money on things I want and desire, and my parents pay for basic necessities and a lot of things I get. I do my best to save but still spend a decent amount.
I rarely spend my own money on anything. It mostly just goes into my account. I honestly can’t recall spending any of it in the last month.
I only pay for food when my parents tell me I’m on my own for eating a meal, so other than that I put my money in a savings account for college, I spend roughly $20 on food a month.
I don’t usually spend my money. Maybe if I am out with friends to get ice cream for example, but my parents usually pay for me.
I typically spend about $200 a month. I do not have to pay for most necessities in my home like rent, insurance, or a car payment. Most of my money is spent on luxuries that I want. I saved a little less than half my paycheck this last month.
Initial thoughts: We eat out way too much! I spend way too much on Amazon. We need to set limits, We are not spending responsibly.
Same, Sabrina! I lost track of how many times my husband asked me, “Do you know how much we spent an Amazon, last month.” UGH
I have a family of 4. Myself, my husband, and our two sons, 15 & 12. And I was/still am, shocked by our LATE NIGHT snacking
There are about 10 x’s more receipts from gas stations and fast food places than I even imagined-and all after 8pm-
We have always eaten a bowl of cereal at our kitchen table together around 9pm every night-
But here lately we’ve been busy every night, with each of our boys extracurricular activities. It’s just EASIER to grab random food items on the way home.
I’m not giving an excuse, just being honest about what has been going on.
Shocking when you look at ALL the receipts, it added up to an amount i did not like at all!!
Overdraft fees are KILLING ME! I have never been good about watching my account balance and it is clearly a huge factor in my account history…my paycheck hits and I am practically swimming in negative…this needs to change and FAST!
Well, I spent more money than I brought in. That’s ZERO savings, with $160 giving. This is what it looks like when I just spend without really thinking about budgeting. I’m looking forward to using my money more intentionally.
Spending more due to increased savings. I have to increase my income to keep up paying loans and savings.
Ugh this is difficult. My spending is so far out of control. Continue to work on.
My thoughts are that my bills are too much each month. I spent a lot on bills.
I spend to much when I’m out I have no savings
Thank you for the comments it was interesting to read. Me too as a majority of people here spend more then make but also I surprised by how many young people here are paying attention to their budgeting.
I spend too much money that we don’t have
I spent more than I intended on gifts, but I was able to put away money to savings this month! So I count that as progress.
Yikes, I spent a lot. I knew I did because I went a little crazy with spending for my boyfriend’s birthday, but it was a little jarring to actually see the amount all added up for the month. Excited to improve upon this misjudgement
Spent more money than I thought on frivolous things. Put a couple hundred in savings
I spend too much, lack of saving is my issue and for not working as much due to school really affects me !
I don’t spend a lot, I usually never even meet my allowance. My parents pay for most of the things I do, but I did give to charity last month, with my own money.
I barely spend the money I earn, but all the rest goes in my savings account.
My parents pay me an allowance every 2 weeks for doing chores and that usually goes towards gas or non-essentials. My parents pay for the necessities so that I don’t have to worry about them.
I do not have any expenses so nothing struck me
I am always spending more than I make. big reason I am here. so many misc. categories and money goes to amazon. I have to break the cycle and stick to categories with realistic goals in mind! i want to stop living paycheck to paycheck, save more, and pay off debt!
I spent around $600 last month and saved no money. The amount of money I spend on eating out surprised me.
last month I spent a decent amount of money, and since I have hardly any income, I have to be careful with what I spend. I save a lot of my money so I can buy more important things or so that I have it in case of emergencies. my parents cover my gas, but only because I don’t currently have a job.
I spend allowance on what I want but I don´t really spend my money. I normally spend it for when my parents need some for food or necessary things.
I find I dont really spend that much money that often espesially relative to how much money I receive in gifts.
Last month, I spent a tiny amount of money for what I want. I just spent it on things I needed for hobbies. I still have a good amount of money saved.
Get in touch with the reality of what I Actually need, been educational
I noticed that I spent too much on random gas station visits and eating out for lunch and Starbucks in the mornings. That all adds up so much!
I discovered I spend entirely too much on food and impulse buying.
Yikes! I need to make more because there’s no rom for flexibility!
I. Went back to when we smoked and noticed we spent $300 a month at least on cigarettes before we quit over 2 years ago plus we are out a lot now we spend more on groceries but not as much as it was costing for those things!!!
Good observation, Christen! I think we all have habits that cost us, but we don’t appreciate how much at the time. Congratulations on kicking the smoking habit!
Well after looking at my expenses, I see that I spent a lot on eating out and of course, I didn’t save anything.
This was just shocking, the last month was a heavy spending month. I hope to make better choices and not buy so impulsively in the future
Spend waaaay too much at the grocery store. Need to start meal planning and buy only for those meals. Also spent a considerable sum at the Vets this month on a checkup for my dog, which put me into overdraft. Have to operate a few dollars short next month to make up for the deficit.
I spent much more that I thought I did. Actually I spent more than I made in income. I did have some larger car insurance and registration fees which are expensive here in Australia. This is why I’m interested in your envelope strategy, to put away for the big expenses to make sure you cover them as well and not get hit like a Mack Truck when they arrive.
Waaaay too much in fun and giving and not near enough invested in myself. Very shocking!