How Much Spending Money Do You Budget Each Month?

[fc2]

I don't budget for random expenses at all, that's why I am online doing programs like Fusioncash so I don't need to. All the money I earn here and a few other places goes for retirement fun, since Social Security doesn't include enough for that. Last Monday I used a Groupon I had to take a cruise in the Columbia River Gorge and have lunch at the Dockside Cafe. I had the money sitting in PayPal, so when that deal came along I could grab it and make my fun money go twice as far.

Old Buddy/Warren Contreras,

I emailed you over a week ago at your website and you never replied to my request to join your website. Is your site down? Are you no longer accepting registration requests?

That's about the time I was fishing in Alaska, so it could have been lost. Email is not the best method of communication at best, so you could try again or use Skype for better results. Thanks for trying.

how about phone call? i dont do skype at this time. or how about right in here?

[oldbuddy]

I don't budget for random expenses at all, that's why I am online doing programs like Fusioncash so I don't need to. All the money I earn here and a few other places goes for retirement fun, since Social Security doesn't include enough for that. Last Monday I used a Groupon I had to take a cruise in the Columbia River Gorge and have lunch at the Dockside Cafe. I had the money sitting in PayPal, so when that deal came along I could grab it and make my fun money go twice as far.

Old Buddy/Warren Contreras,

I emailed you over a week ago at your website and you never replied to my request to join your website. Is your site down? Are you no longer accepting registration requests?

That's about the time I was fishing in Alaska, so it could have been lost. Email is not the best method of communication at best, so you could try again or use Skype for better results. Thanks for trying.

how about phone call? i dont do skype at this time. or how about right in here?

That would be great, but they do not allow us to disclose personal contact details in this forum. That's why I went to the trouble to make myself easy to find on Google.

[bholmes618]

It varies for us, depending on what projects we are doing around the house or what is going on with the kids.  I know if you don't keep track or budget, it can add up very very quickly.  I definitely wish I had more fun money and less designated towards bills/gas/groceries though.  One reason I am always looking for new money-making jobs online.

[oonamas]

Really interesting reading everyone's responses - and I agree a budget (or spending plan! ) is really important if you ever want to accumulate any money. I guess I'm pretty lucky that I can give myself $200 a month. It seems like a lot, but I still typically manage to spend it! It goes towards things like cat food and cat litter, gifts (everyone in my life is getting married or having a baby lately), coffee or happy hour with friends, acrylics and canvas, etc. That's why I call it my miscellaneous money!

FC and selling odds and ends on ebay help fund my miscellaneous money each month. My husband also gets miscellaneous money - $300 per month because he is way less into budgeting than I am, and already resents being put on an "allowance". How do you couples out there deal with different money perspectives?

[KSimonetti92]

I usually try to limit myself to a budget of around $50 for random spending money. The trick is to have more on hand than what you need, but have a goal set. Such as, going to the store for toothpaste with a $5 bill. Buy the toothpaste, and put what is left in a jar for vacation or whatever you'd like to save up for. I know it sounds like small potato savings, but just in the past month I've made $20+ in random change this way. It adds up really quickly! I don't like having a bunch of change in my pocket, and I try to put all my one dollar bills in there, too, so it works out well. 

[oonamas]

I usually try to limit myself to a budget of around $50 for random spending money. The trick is to have more on hand than what you need, but have a goal set. Such as, going to the store for toothpaste with a $5 bill. Buy the toothpaste, and put what is left in a jar for vacation or whatever you'd like to save up for. I know it sounds like small potato savings, but just in the past month I've made $20+ in random change this way. It adds up really quickly! I don't like having a bunch of change in my pocket, and I try to put all my one dollar bills in there, too, so it works out well. 

That's a great idea, and I totally agree that the small change adds up! Every few months I roll all of our change, and usually come up with about $20 or so. Not bad when you think it was just a bunch of unused coins sitting in a jar before I cash it out!

[sammywantsya]

i do it smart i usually pay off my bills on time

[diala84]

I don't really budget my money. I use Mint.com so I know I am spending below what I make every month but I spend different amounts in different categories each month.

[ttix67]

I try and give myself at most $100 a month to work with since I have little to no self-control over buying things that I don't even need. Expenses such as rent, food and bills all add up anyway so I have little room to work with but I still try and save as much as I can.  I plan to purchase a house soon and need as much as I can save for the down payment.

[smarie62]

Every time I budget I don't stick to it, after I pay all my bills and have enough for food since it is just myself I can spend at least 100.00 and that will be enough since I have a man who pampers me all the time.  I don't or should I say stick to my budget at all and when I spend all my money then I am upset about the whole thing claiming that next month will be different and it does not.

[hawkeye3210]

Don't really budget for random expenses on monthly basis. I budget for the necessities though.

[squirrelgirl44]

I don't really have a "budget." Luckily I usually have enough to get the stuff I want although I rarely have anything left over.