Can you CHECK OVER my sched j expenses?

[OhioFiler]

Recreation is too high at $200/mth.
Gifts are too high at $50/mth

Gas is too low at $160/mth. How many vehicles do you have? Do you commute? $160/mth is $37.21 per week ($160/4.3) - that's not even a full tank of gas! Swap around some of your numbers....this budget looks like an idealized type budget rather than an actual budget.

For a family of 4 (with extended families) that is $600 per year. Seems reasonable to me. Maybe even a bit low.

I also thought $20 per month for haircuts was a bit low for a family of 4.

[Moneypenny]

You guys are awesome!! I also laughed-- yeah what a typ guy-- no clue about personal grooming. and you caught a lot that i didnt realize.

$60 a month for rec? for 4 people? if thats a good number i will use it. i thought i did read somewhere about gym membership-- does that ring a bell with anyone? no membership is $60 for 4 people.

Violin Lessons: for 2 kids-- i am wondering about the legal logistics not what seems right. In my depressed CA school system, there is nothing exciting for bright children packed into standing room only classes, so yes this is absolutely necessary, but my question is about the trustee: anyone have a clue about that?

what is a good figure for tires, for auto repair?

what do you think about clothes for a family of 4? (yes, we scrape by on much less than other families on clothes)

will have to keep track of gas, 2 vehicles and one commute going forward (two commutes currently)

Gifts, not counting my own children or my wife or I, was figured as Father, Mother, Sister, Broinlaw, Brother, Sisteringirlfried, on my side only, 6 gifts of $100 each at Xmas, not even figuring birthdays or my wifes overseas family which is bigger. That seemed an underestimate to me: but let me know, what would be an allowable figure under gifts as I would have no trouble matching it with reciepts.

thanks so much this is awesome, I am starting to feel so much better now. with your suggestions i think i will make it....

MMP

[BkinTX]

$200/month for clothes isn't scraping by.

That's $600 per person per year.

[music12]

$200/month for clothes isn't scraping by.

That's $600 per person per year.

something strange about this math

[BkinTX]

Yes?

[pcn]

$600 per year is too much?

5 pair Dockers 5 x 30 = 150
2 pair shoes 2 x 50 = 100
5 casual shirts 5 x 30 = 150
underwear 24
socks 20
2 pair jeans 2 x 30 = 60
2 weekend shirts 2 x 20 = 40
Total $544

Better hope nothing gets torn, stained, or worn out in a year, as that's 7 different "outfits", one for every day of the week. And that's working where I can dress casual, and pretending one would wer the same thing every weekend. Seems more than reasonable to me.

[LuciluS]

ROFLOL! My Brain was all fuzzy this past week.

$200 X 4 = $800 Not $600

Thanks for the laugh...I needed it.

Luci

[BkinTX]

It's not "too much" but it's certainly not never buying clothes and wearing them until they're threadbare.

Goodwill's clothes are $3.50/pc. Most thrift shops have clothes from $1-$10/pc. Big chain stores have children's clothing for $4 or less/pc. Old Navy has clothes for $10 and less.

I disagree with the assertion that $200/month for clothes for a family of four is dire straights, wearing the lowest quality and wearing it out.

I have a family of 6. I know how much clothes cost. ;)

[BkinTX]

$200 x 12 (months in a year) = $2400

$2400/4 (people in the family) = $600

$600 a year per family member.

[BkinTX]

LuciLus?

ETA: I took a real quick peek at the Target website and added up the items on the "must have" adult male list (pcn) and I got $203 for the entire wardrobe. That's all retail stuff. No second hand.

Second hand could knock that price waaay down.

[LuciluS]

$200 x 12 (months in a year) = $2400

$2400/4 (people in the family) = $600

$600 a year per family member.

Oh Me! Sorry, you are correct. I guess the ole brain is Still Fuzzy. We are filing 9/30/09 and I have no clue what to put down for clothing as we really haven't had the money to buy clothes this past year.

Dh is a Big Man! Wears a size 16 shoe & 3XT for shirts & 42 inch in jeans. Most places charge an extra $2.00 for large clothing.

Luci

[BkinTX]

No worries! I promise I'm not THAT bad at math!

[music12]

No worries! I promise I'm not THAT bad at math!

my mistake!!! (can't divide by 4, apparently!). thank HEAVENS this is an anonymous site! otherwise i'd have to give back all my academic degrees...

but, it's probably attributable to stress, nothing more.

[LuciluS]

my mistake!!! (can't divide by 4, apparently!). thank HEAVENS this is an anonymous site! otherwise i'd have to give back all my academic degrees...

but, it's probably attributable to stress, nothing more.

ROFLOL! I agree..Of course being 100% disabled my Accounting Degree doesn't mean squat LOL!

Thanks BKinTX for being Nice about our mistakes.

Luci

[Moneypenny]

when i said that we wear clothes threadbare i did not mean to indicate that we do that on $200 a month. I am just trying to get a sense of this. I dont mind if it is deemed acceptable to spend $200. Is this considered an acceptable amount?

what is an acceptable amount, if $200 a month is too much?

thanks!

MMP