My living breakdown is this:
Children needs 3%
Education 6%
Groceries 5%
Dining Out 2%
Entertainment 1%
Clothes 2%
Incidental 2%
Would be good to know if I budgeted this too high which seems to be what you’re implying. Not really getting a handle on what raising 2 kids would cost – wife likes to buy them all kind of ‘learning’ toys and plans to put them in private lessons.
Thx for the feedback! Yes, the dicretionary part (more for things like big vacation, not everyday discretionary which is part of living expense) is non-existent, but i’m expecting combination of annual raise+bonus will make up for it. In tough times, reducing charity is a possibility but would really be the last place.
I’m just wondering if the budget is typical of people at my income level and if that’s the case is good areas like 4sranch is really beyond us. Even 1700sqft selling for 450k but with $400 hoa/mr would put monthly cost equal to (roughly) 530k!
@CA Renter: I share your sentiment, but is that really true for the majority of educated, middle class folks buying home in recent years?
