I just added to the 'what percentage do you save' thread and it was really helpful and encouraging for me.
My current breakdown is at the end of this post, but the reason it was so helpful is because I can currently save/apply 25% of my net without changing anything I currently spend.
This is a huge revelation for me. I have a big pad built into mine and DH's allowance each month, our grocery bill is estimated way more than it could be, and the cable bill could be trashed altogether. Assuming we cut the allowances and grocery bill in half if necessary and got rid of the cable, that would be an extra 20% that could be applied elsewhere if we had to.
Cool... I am starting to feel much better about my 'almost budget'
* * * * * * * * * * * *
NECESSITIES, HAVE TO LIVE
SOMEWHERE, NEED CAR TO WORK
* * * * * * * * * * * *
11.90% mortgage
7.14% car
19.05%
* * * * * * * * * * * *
THERE'S A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY
HERE
* * * * * * * * * * * *
11.90% d allow
9.52% t allow
9.52% groceries
30.95%
* * * * * * * * * * * *
PAST DEBT IF ONLY PAYING
THE MINS
* * * * * * * * * * * *
1.19% student loan
1.43% honda card
2.86% inlaws
0.71% hospital
0.48% cc1
0.48% cc2
7.14%
* * * * * * * * * * * *
MONTHLY NON DEBT BILLS
* * * * * * * * * * * *
1.79% ins -c
4.17% cable
1.19% cell
3.57% elec
10.71%
* * * * * * * * * * * *
NON-MONTHLY BILLS AND
HOLIDAY SAVINGS
* * * * * * * * * * * *
0.60% water
2.38% prop tx - h
1.31% ins -h
0.48% prop tx - c
2.38% xmas
7.14%
* * * * * * * * * * * *
TOTAL NEW INCOME ALREADY
ALLOCATED
* * * * * * * * * * * *
75.00%
Savings Percentage
October 10th, 2006 at 05:44 pm
October 10th, 2006 at 06:24 pm 1160504667
I'm also curious about the 2.86% inlaws
Otherwise, congratulations... 25% saving is just great. I wish I could do that. I'm sticking with 10% for now.
October 10th, 2006 at 06:55 pm 1160506549
October 10th, 2006 at 06:58 pm 1160506731
October 10th, 2006 at 08:52 pm 1160513548
as for the mortgage, i live in upstate SC which has, for here, mid-range housing prices, but dirt cheap compared to everywhere else. our 'new to us' house is 1700 sf 3BR 2BA 2 story on .2 acre about 1.25 miles from downtown. it appraised for 75k b/c needed some landscaping & oven, we bought for 63k.
"2.86% inlaws" is b/c my DH consolidated all his debt from his previous marriage onto 1 of his parents 0% CCs (they offered & he needed the help). so, this is debt i inherited when we got married, and every month we send the inlaws money for that CC. bad enough I'm paying my own =/
October 10th, 2006 at 09:36 pm 1160516202
October 10th, 2006 at 09:49 pm 1160516961
October 11th, 2006 at 03:10 pm 1160579458
October 11th, 2006 at 04:01 pm 1160582477
Yeah, other than car and house the inlaws are our biggest debt at about 9k... GAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!! =P Good news is that MIL is *very* frugal herself and always moves the balance to a 0% card