DebtHater's 2010 Budget

I started this year with a raise (yay!) and six months of livings expenses saved.

Since I am completely debt free, there was a lot of room to adjust my budget. Primarily, I am saving more money and bumping up some spending categories where I notoriously spend over or that I just wanted to bump.

Last year, I didn't save in our 401k (no matches at work) or in my own IRA because I wanted to finish my six-month fund. Now that that isn't an issue, it's time to focus!

My new monthly budget looks like this (numbers are rounded and such):

Paying Myself First
401k: $833
Tithe/Charity: $616

Savings for Future Spending

Annual expenses: $73

Travel: $130

Gifts/Holidays: $150

HSA: $93 (yeah, finally opened one)

Living Expenses

Rent and utilities: $1015 (subject to increase, boo)

Rental insurance: $8.67 $9.30

Transportation: $120

Cell phone: $78

Cable & Internet: $108

Laundry & Dry Cleaning: $60

Groceries: $300

Stuff I Enjoy
Yoga: $115

Dining out: $300

Clothing, shoes, accessories $300

Hair, Cosmetics and other purty things: $100

Entertainment: $90

The total actually bumped my six-months living expenses total from about $16,000 to $17,500, which I already have saved in an online account thanks to my savings in 2009 and my 2010 bonus.

So far, so good.

DH

Comments

[J. Money]

Freakin' LOVE that 401k chunk!!! Good for you :)And congrats on the raise! hope to see you at a happy hour soon.

[Chitown]

Keep up the good work. It is pretty awesome that you have gotten to a place where you can pay yourself first. Great job!!!

[Sallie's Niece]

Looks like a great budget, congrats!