My Summer Budget

First off let me apologise, my favourite piece of office software is MS Notepad.  It is where I do all my calculations, formal writing, and thinking.  So sorry that my budget does not come to you in spreadsheet form.

MONTHLY BUDGET 
$5015 After Tax Income

-1025 Mortgage
- 545 Childcare
-  65 Electricity
-  55 Water/Sewer
-  40 Natural Gas
-  40 Cellphone
- 850 Savings
-   8 Netflix
- 500 Yearly Expenses (see below)
           
$1885/month (4.33 weeks/month)
$ 435/week (food/clothing/gift/pets/maintenance)


YEARLY EXPENSES
2580 Property Tax (not included in Mortgage)
1720 Auto Insurance (2x Cars)
1030 Home Insurance
 625 DSL Unlimited Internet
          
$5955/year (12 months/year)
$ 500/month

So it all boils down to that $435/week.  My wife and I track our budget with a piece of paper that hangs on the fridge, and subtract all our groceries, amazon, gas, coffee, haircuts, etc. off that sheet;  Overages carry over to the next month, and surplus is thrown into savings. 

That $435/week doesn't really accommodate major repairs/improvements or vacations, and those numbers are currently coming out of the savings.   I am currently not happy with my savings:income ratio, its usually around 30-50% (instead of the current 15%).  Though I recently had a son (2 years of age) and with it has come some new expenses:

• Moved from our 900sq/ft house to a 1400sq/ft (which doubled my mortgage/property taxes)
• Daycare (Half-days, 5 days/week)
• Mrs. CCC reduced her income/hours by 60% to spend more time at home with Jr. CCC

Though in September Mrs. CCC will be increasing her hours from 40% to 70%, and we are hoping to save all the extra income which should bring our savings rate back to a more comfortable 30% of after tax income.