I haven't posted an actual numbers budget here yet, but I figure given how careful we will need to be these next few months, December is a good time to start. Explanations to follow. Here goes:
Income:
Hubby's Job (after tax): $5313
Hubby's Hobby Income: $220
My "Job": $120
Child Support Back-pay: $104
Total Income: $5757
Expenses:
Mortgage/Insurance: $1509
Auto Insurance: $73
Credit Card 1: $60
Student Loan: $619
Mozy: $10
Credit Card 2: $42
Gym Membership: $102
Credit Card 3: $119
Auto Loan: $198
Credit Card 4: $78
City Utilities: $82
Cell Phone Service: $151
Natural Gas: $90
Electric: $170
Garbage: $59
Groceries+: $1250
Gasoline: $320
Leaf Removal Service: $150
Misc: $500
Entertainment: $250
Christmas: $600
Total Expenses: $6532
Difference: -$775
Okay, so before my non-existent audience jumps down my neck about a few items on there, allow me to explain myself. First of all, our gym membership. A bit costly, I agree, and that is certainly one of those things they always recommend canceling at the beginning of any big get out of debt plan. But the assumption is usually that you're not using it enough for it to be worth it. And nothing could be farther from the truth in our case. You see, our gym provides 2 free hours of child care per day for stay at home mommies like me to take advantage of and not go crazy. Either my husband or I, and not uncommonly both, take a trip to the gym pretty much Every Single Day. No, I am not exaggerating, and we have both been doing this for over a year now so I'm pretty sure its not a phase. Additionally, since we started going to the gym, we have lost a combined total of over 100 pounds. This has brought both our BMIs into the healthy range and allows us to get a $1200/yr reduction in our health insurance premium costs. And guess what? That pays for the gym. So I think that's a valid expense.
The leaf removal service. Well, all I can say in defense is that my husband spent just about every moment of his weekend free time for a month last year trying to take care of this on his own, and we still did a completely half ass job. With two small boys who cannot be kept contained for any length of time without a fence, (nor kept in the cold that long), we just don't have the time for this right now. An extravagance, yes, but so, so worth it.
To be honest though, this is really an extension of the lawn mowing service we had this past summer. Also something we felt we did not have time for, though not as time consuming as the leaves I'll admit. And we had not yet started our Total Money Makeover then. Not sure what we're going to do about that next lawn season yet. If the boys are at the point where they can be outside with me while I do it, it might be possible again. I am hoping my business will pick up again by then though so that we won't need to feel bad about making that splurge again. Because we loved it and our yard looks so much better now.
One final note, while he does a great job, our lawn guy is horrible with his billing. We haven't yet actually received this leaf removal bill, and I have a feeling I am going to have to remind him he added us to his leaf list. He is a decent guy and I would not want to take advantage of him - but - if he did forget again, I may wait to remind him until late February or so. 
Entertainment - that's the allowance hubby and I give ourselves so that we have at least a little fun money. I've actually cut this budget category down quite a bit from what it used to be because we've both been pretty good at cutting it back and we have agreed to let go of date nights out for a year. But if I give hubby any less than what it currently is, he will not be willing to do this anymore. He's struggling as it is. So that's that.
Yes, we have expensive iPhone data plans. All I can say is that we live on them. There was a time not long ago that I felt they were completely unnecessary (hubby likes to remind me of that from time to time). But now, everything from our recipes, to workout routines, to social networking, to downtime gaming is on them and I'm not even sure what I would do without mine anymore. For better or worse, my phone is like an extension of myself at this point. So extravagant or not, we're not getting rid of that. We did cancel our home phone a while back though.
Garbage - just a note that that is for two months worth of service.
Gasoline - This one might be considerably lower. Will depend on whether I need to get my daughter from college at the end of the semester or not. Its amazing how much less we spend on gas than we used to though now that we don't go anywhere! Still figuring out what a good number for it is now.
Groceries+ - as I've mentioned, we're working on it. Also, please note that the plus indicates this category contains other items too. Things like paper towels and tooth paste and really anything we usually buy at the grocery store. (Working on starting to separate out this category). We've started shopping at a discount ware house store every couple weeks for many things, but we're still using our more expensive grocery delivery service for most perishable things, though we have almost halved our bill most weeks with the cost reducing measures we're taking. I think there's more we can do here, but Xmas and having 5 grocery days in Dec. instead of 4 is going to make this month hard. Someday the boys will be big enough to make store shopping feel more doable again too I'm sure, but by then hopefully we'll be out of this mess.
We do have some leftover buffer from this month that will help us out a little with that $773 difference, as well as some other possibilities I've discussed, but its going to be a tough month. Without Xmas in there, Jan should be a little better.
The Dec. Budget
December 13th, 2012 at 07:35 pm
December 13th, 2012 at 08:21 pm 1355430076
Having groceries delivered is another extravagance that you don't need. People with kids go to the grocery store all the time. You just have to find a way for it to work. 1200 in groceries a month for a family of 4(since dd is not in the house anymore) is insanely high. You have got to get that under control.
Your entertainment budget seems extremely high also. Maybe you could cut that down some given your situation.
I have read all of your posts and I have to admit that it seems you are not real serious about getting out of debt. You don't want to give up any of your conveniences to accomplish your goals. The fact that you wanted a big ring because that is what your husband bought for his ex and you show no remorse for that and would do it again proves that you are not serious about debt repayment.
December 13th, 2012 at 09:33 pm 1355434382
Overall, there is a lack of prioritizing in this budget. Something has to give, but it comes across you are not willing to give on much. Maybe it's not going to happen overnight, but I would make a clear goal to start cutting one expense down every week or month or something. Start with the "lease important" and work your way up the list. Two key components of sound financial management are having clear priorities and being able to get the same things for less. I Feel the second (getting the same stuff for less) is the key to staying out of the debt - it has to be even more key to getting out of debt. Plus, if you start focusing on one thing at a time, it's really not that painful. I mention going through one thing at a time, because you aren't going to change all your habits overnight. You just got to start with something and do it. Seriously, start shopping around for other yard services. Pronto. What about hiring a teenager in the neighborhood? Ask around for a better deal.
December 14th, 2012 at 02:14 am 1355451273
What do you do for entertainment? Does your city offer anything for free? Where I live, once a month you can go to the museum for free. The library offers all kinds of things like lectures, slide shows, gaming nights (like board games and card games). Ours has a preschool reading circle. In the summer the library here has what they call a Brown Bag Lunch on the Library Lawn, where you come with your kids on a Friday afternoon and bring a lunch and they provide all manner of entertainers from magicians to singers to dance troups for free. We also have free movies shown at night in one of the parks during the summer.
Our port has a free community gathering about a week before Christmas, where you can go and watch some choirs and dance groups perform and then you walk the dock and see all the boats that are lit up with lights in the harbor.
One of our elementary schools hosts a family fun night once a month. You do not have to have an elementary school age child to go.
Some of our art galleries have shows that are fun to go to. One of our movie theaters does second run movies for $2.
Go to your city's chamber of commerce or tourist guide building and there should be tons of stuff to do in your own city or county. Stop by the biggest hotel in your city and look at their pamphlet rack. There are often good discount coupons for local attractions.
Find out when your local high school concerts are for band, orchestra, or choir. Schools ususally don't charge for those and anyone can come. Also check on school plays. I have seen some darn good musicals for $7 a ticket. Go to a highschool basketball game for $5 per person (or thereabouts) or a middle school one for free.
We have gone to a Lion's Club local fundraiser every year for years. It's a spaghetti dinner followed by dancing (children can go) and costs $20 per family or $5 per person.
One of our local hobby and gaming shops offers free role-playing game nights twice a month.
Entertainment can be had at a greatly reduced price, you just have to know where to look.
Do you have another mom that you can swap babysitting nights with so no one has to pay a sitter? That can open up so much for you.