New Budget Spreadsheet, what'd I miss?

[Headache]

Definitely a detailed list however, relying on engineered food powder as sustenance for the rest of your life is not practical. You are missing out on very beneficial enzymes and the natural balance of plant foods. For a temporary measure it's fine but long term that's a gamble with health I'm not willing to bet on.

 

[Bster13]

Definitely a detailed list however, relying on engineered food powder as sustenance for the rest of your life is not practical.  You are missing out on very beneficial enzymes and the natural balance of plant foods.  For a temporary measure it's fine but long term that's a gamble with health I'm not willing to bet on.

Perhaps better discussed in another thread, but compared to what I tend to eat if left to my vices, and the research I've read about various powdered food sources engineered to meet ~100% of the FDA daily value, and personal blood tests after being on a mostly Soylent diet for 1+ years, and a portion of my budget being directed to fresh food, I am hoping I'll be alright.  But it's a whole other story if I get sick of the taste or texture!

 

[GotSmart]

Are you using something like Planet Fitness to shower that is paid for outside that $10 / week?  The $10/wk is strictly laundry or you're paying for a shower at a truck stop?

There are many places that have combined showers and laundromats.  Shower, $5 to $7. laundry $3.50 to $4.  One load wash & dried. Sometimes more, sometimes less.  It all comes from my change, which most would spend on smokes or snacks.  It helps me pay attention to my budget. (Non smoker, diabetic)

My medical plan has free access to many health clubs.  Then I get free showers.

 

[Bster13]

There are many places that have combined showers and laundromats.  Shower, $5 to $7. laundry $3.50 to $4.  One load wash & dried. Sometimes more, sometimes less.  It all comes from my change, which most would spend on smokes or snacks.  It helps me pay attention to my budget. (Non smoker, diabetic)

My medical plan has free access to many health clubs.  Then I get free showers.

Ah...makes sense.  To this Sticks & bricks guy who has never been to a laundromat, thanks for the tip!

 

[DrJean]

Don't waste too much money on laundry soap. I use laundry balls... they agitate the water which washes the clothes, takes less rinsing (you don't have to rinse out soap. Many dry soaps have salt in them, which grinds your cloth and wears out your clothes earlier. Of course, using a little biodegradable liquid helps with real dirt. (Not to be confused with dryer balls, which help clothes dry faster in a dryer by keeping them from folding together.)


Have you budgeted the annual license fees, insurance, and other like driver's license? What about any volunteer membership fees? Worship donations? What about savings? You have to budget in savings no matter what... even if you can only begin with $1 a week. It might help pay a parking ticket.

 

[mothercoder]

Trash bags... I get the feeling a lot of the country does not hand out plastic bags anymore.  In the Northeast they are still all over the place, hrmm....

I'm in the Mid-Atlantic and plastic grocery bags cost $0.05 each.  Event restaurants offering food "to go" are charging for the bags.

 

[mothercoder]

Thanks Cheli.  I definitely could do a free wordpress.com blog, but if I got my rear in gear and thought I could make a few bucks in advertising, I'd have to pay for hosting.  I briefly looked here: http://www.interstellarorchard.com/2015/05/26/an-introduction-to-travel-blogging/ for general costs of a fulltimers blog, but obviously I got my wires crossed and perhaps having a full blown blog doesn't cost as much as I thought!

I use A Small Orange for hosting (www.asmallorange.com).  The "Small Shared Plan" is only $5/mo and is usually sufficient for a blog.  Cost of your domain should be around $10/year.  So unless you're paying someone to create and maintain your site, the yearly cost could be as low as $70/year.

 

[Bster13]

I use A Small Orange for hosting (www.asmallorange.com).  The "Small Shared Plan" is only $5/mo and is usually sufficient for a blog.  Cost of your domain should be around $10/year.  So unless you're paying someone to create and maintain your site, the yearly cost could be as low as $70/year.

Hrmm, I guess I was reading a fulltimer's popular blog and they stated it was more than that, but perhaps they have a ton of traffic or they used a lot of widgets or special services?

 

[DrJean]

Let's see if this works:  Budget spreadsheet sample
another page  and another


As for a blog.... why not join a website forum that offers free blog too?  Or are they not available anymore?

 

[#1BonBonQueen]

I really liked the spreadsheet, but.... I found it a bit confusing, but after re-reading it, I was less comfused.
I saw the Cell Phone, and then later on Cell phone and couldn't figure out why you were spending for a phone twice, but... finally realized that one was service the other was the phone itself. I usually add it all together, but it is your budget.
I also thought a bit expensive, for a lifestyle, but hey, I am usually more worried about my budget, than anyone elses.
All in all, a great start for a budget. I usually figure my expenses by the month, then multiply by 12 and then figure each one out that way.
I have used the "envelope" method for so long, but it has always served me well. I pay our taxes that way, our camp fees that way, and even our income taxes that way, but we are on a fixed income, and I know what is needed and how much we are getting in every month. Seldom does our bills change and if they do, it is usually less than more.
This should make us all re-think our budgets and how we can trim them some.
Thanks for sharing.