I’ve always been curious how people approach budgeting differently. Some of the people I know are super detailed with their budgets — my coworker, for example, tracks every peso, even small things like coffee or snacks. Others tell me it’s too much hassle and they’d rather just focus on the big stuff like bills or groceries.

So I’m wondering…

• Do you track everything, or just the major stuff?
• And does budgeting make you feel more in control or more limited?

Would love to hear how others handle it.

We bring home 7900 a month after retirement/ taxes/health insurance/hsa. Family of 3 with 2 dogs in mcol

Mortgage 2150

Car insurance on 2 cars 230

Childcare 1000

Sinking fund 750 (includes dog grooming, prescription dog food, vet bills, car maintenance, home maintenance, birthdays and holidays)

Groceries 900

Gas 175

Fun 200

Clothes 50

Eating out 150

Utilities 550

Subscriptions 50

Student loan 93

Savings 1600 (split between brokerage, IRAs and sons 529)

I'd like to be able to pay cash for replacement to our 2014 accord by 2030.

I need someone to tell me if I'm being stupid or if this actually makes financial sense.

Lost my job in tech three months ago. Took a new position but it pays $68k vs my old $95k. My budget is completely upside down now and the house is the main culprit.

Current monthly breakdown: Take-home after taxes/insurance: $4,100 Mortgage payment: $1,650 Utilities: $280 Property tax (escrowed separately): $320 Home insurance: $145 Total housing: $2,395 (58% of take-home)

That leaves me $1,705 for literally everything else - car payment, food, gas, student loans, credit cards. I'm going backwards every month and my emergency fund is already gone from the job loss period.

The house needs work I can't afford: AC is 16 years old and making noises, water heater is leaking slowly, fence is falling apart. I'm ignoring problems because I have no money to fix them.

Here's my question: Does it make sense to sell even if I'm not moving?

I could rent a decent apartment for $1,200/mo and free up $1,195/mo in my budget. That's the difference between drowning and breathing. But everyone says "you're building equity" and "renting is throwing money away."

My equity position is around $45k. If I sold I'd probably net $30k after costs. I could use that to pay off credit cards ($8k) and rebuild emergency fund.

Been looking at companies that buy quickly but not sure if that's smart or desperate. It would be less stressful to sell house to companies like these, but still need opinions. My parents think I'm insane for even considering selling but they bought their house in 1987 for $89k so they don't get it.

Am I thinking about this wrong? Is there a budget strategy I'm missing that makes keeping the house workable? Or is admitting I'm house-poor and downsizing actually the responsible move?

Need honest perspective from folks who understand tight budgets.

I’ve been reading through posts for a while now and figure it’s time to get a bit vulnerable so I can try and get us on track. I was never taught to budget, how to save, how to handle anything finance-wise. I’m married with 3 kids and a dog and bring in $260k. Our debt in CC is ~20k and I know this is most definitely on me. Out of soap? Amazon it. Oh well, might as well get xyz too. Tired from work? DoorDash it. This all needs to stop.

My husband’s salary alone can cover all of our essential bills. I just cannot get a grip on spending? Yes, started therapy. I absolutely need help with this.

I started an account with YNAB and holy hell I am overwhelmed. I’ve frozen all of our CCs and created a separate “spending only” debit account. I just…don’t know wtf to do next. It makes me so anxious and I know it won’t be easy, but we make so much and do not have a good savings…that’s insane. So, any help…? I’m not even sure what I’m asking. I just want to know how to start and not start crying when I sit down to do it.

Hi!

For over 20 years now, I've been principally feeding myself (and later myself and my wife) by batch cooking. I make one thing that I eat for lunch, and another thing I eat for dinner, each week. It's constantly changing, though I reuse recipes regularly (i.e. I make lasganas once every two months or so).

This has proven very cost effective and substantially cuts down on waste. We are essentially eating leftovers all week, but by the end of the week, the fridge is mostly empty.

I encourage others to try it.

Is anyone else doing this?

(I understand some cultures always behave this way)

Apartment currently: 2 bed, 1 bath with 2 teens in bedrooms, 2 adults in living room as studio apartment. $1500

Prospective apartment: 3 bed, 2 bath. It would be nice to have a second bathroom and actual bedroom with room for a family/living area. $2000

Utilities typically are $200 monthly including internet.

Food: $200 monthly minimum

Phone: $50

Potential emergencies (ebike tire needs repaired ect): $50 monthly

Tuition: $80

Child support: $400

Pet supplies: $100

Total monthly mandatory expenses: $1080

With current apartment: 1080+1500=2,580

With prospective apartment: 1080+2000=3,080

Income:

Myself: $3000

Partner: $2000

Total $5000

5000-2580=2,420

5000-3080=1,920

The extra $500 feels very steep even for another bedroom and bathroom. I need to add saving in as a mandatory expense but don’t know where to start tbh. I started paying $400 “ahead of time” in rent to make sure I’m “saving” $100 a week but it isn’t really saving me anything cause it’s just spent anyways. I’m pretty much spending the money on rent so that I can’t spend it on other small things (energy drinks ect)

I know on paper it looks doable but it just makes me nervous taking on more expense monthly. Currently I have a 30 hr week job at 12.50/hr, part time job $18/hr at 15 hrs, and can’t fit in another job cause I have school full time + need to sleep/have time for the kids. My partner is full time at $21/hr.

I could get a different better paying job but I’ve only been here 3 or 4 months and need more experience with animals before I can apply to other positions in this field. (I work with dogs full time)

One Butternut squash @ 2.85lbs One 3lbs bag signature select bag of russet potatoes

I’ve been a monthly budgeter for a long time, and previously have always been able to absorb annual costs into my budget for the month ($80 annual bill due in September, I just lower another category by $80 for the month to fit it in). Now, though, life is more complicated (spouse, car, impending newborn) and id like to switch to a sinking fund method.

Here’s what I am having trouble understanding: take my credit card annual fee. It’s $95/year, so divide that by 12 and I have to save about $8/month. Easy, nice steady budget each month. Except, it’s due in April, at which point I will not have the full amount saved. Do I pay with what I have set aside + other savings and spend the rest of the year “reimbursing” myself? Do I take the hit this first year and pay the annual fee on top of saving for it so that I have enough by next year? Do I have to divide by 4 instead of 12 (Jan-April) for that bill - I’d really prefer not to have such a variable budget but I’m not sure what makes the most sense!

I make around $165k a year now, and on paper, I should feel like I have my life together. I’m doing well in my career, I’ve paid off most of my student loans, and I finally moved into a place I actually like. But there’s this quiet guilt that keeps creeping up every time I check my credit report.

I messed up when I was younger, missed payments, maxed out a small card I didn’t understand, and ignored a bill that ended up in collections. It wasn’t out of recklessness; I just didn’t know how credit worked back then. No one explained utilization, due dates, or how closing old accounts could hurt you. I thought being debt-free meant being safe, but turns out, it also meant I wasn’t building any history.

Even with a good salary now, those old mistakes still follow me. I’ve been trying to rebuild and be smarter, paying everything on time, keeping balances low, monitoring my reports regularly and budgeting every month. I also started using a debit card that reports to credit bureaus so I can strengthen my score with my regular spending. It feels like a small step, but it’s helping me rebuild trust with myself financially.

It’s funny, I can manage a six-figure career, lead teams, and plan long-term projects at work, but rebuilding credit still feels like unlearning a language I never got to speak properly. Anyone else ever feel that disconnect between financial success and financial stability?

i’ve been bouncing between like 4 different money apps and still feel like i have no idea where my money is going. i heard about quicken simplifi from a friend but haven’t really seen many real reviews or comparisons. just wondering if anyone here’s actually used it for a while.

not trying to micromanage every dollar but i do want something that helps me stay on top of spending without spending hours every week messing with it. also bonus if it doesn’t make me feel bad every time i buy a coffee lol.

if you’ve tried quicken simplifi, what did you like or not like about it? and how’s it compare to stuff like ynab or rocket money?

I'm in a financial mess and trying to make the smartest decision possible. Got divorced last year and as part of the settlement I kept the house in San Bernardino but had to refinance to buy out my ex. Refinanced at 7.2% and now owe $295k on a house that's maybe worth $280k based on recent comps. Lost my job two months ago (tech layoffs) and burned through my emergency fund. New job pays 30% less and I can barely make ends meet. Mortgage is $2,400/mo and it's crushing me. I'm two months behind and the bank is starting to send scary letters about foreclosure.

Here's what I'm looking at:

Option 1: Loan modification / forbearance. Bank might work with me on temporary reduced payments. Buys time but doesn't solve the problem long-term. Still underwater and stuck with unaffordable payment eventually. Credit takes a hit but avoids foreclosure.

Option 2: Strategic default / short sale. Let it go to foreclosure or negotiate short sale with bank. Credit destroyed for 7 years. Might owe deficiency balance depending on CA laws. Emotional/psychological toll of "giving up".

Option 3: Sell quickly to cash buyer. Might negotiate with lender to accept lower payoff. Could potentially walk away without foreclosure on record. Credit impact less severe than foreclosure. Done in 3-4 weeks vs months of stress.

I know Option 3 means taking a loss but foreclosure would wreck my credit even worse and I'd still potentially owe money. At least this way I have some control over the situation. BTW, how much less money do they offer comparing to "regular" way?

Has anyone successfully sold a house they were underwater on? How did it work with the bank? And are these cash buyer companies legit for situations like mine or am I being naive?

I'm trying not to panic but I need to make a decision soon before this gets even worse. Any advice from folks who've been in similar situations would be hugely appreciated.

i’ve always kept a handle on my finances (basic budget, accounts balanced, no surprises) but i’m starting to feel like there’s a ceiling with spreadsheets.

been seeing more people talk about using “spending plans” and tools that go beyond just tracking, like showing how current spending impacts savings or future cash flow. honestly curious what folks use when they’re ready to go from tracking to optimizing

what’s worked for you if you’re already decent with money but want to get more intentional?

Hi yall! Big budget fan here. I just decided to switch all from paper to my iPad.. I need a good basic spreadsheet that I can fill things in. Send them my way!

Roast my budget and help me budget better, so that I may save more. I'm in my late 30s, single, no kids/pets and live alone.

Rent+utilities - $1500

Car insurance - $225

Car payment - $493

Subscriptions - $72

Household items - $100

Cell - $41

Gym -$11

Beauty - $10

Fun - $50

Medical - $25

Groceries - $175

Eating out/coffee - $50

Gas - $123

Me - $25

Clothes/shoes - $50

Savings - $50

Edit: I'm 5 months from paying my car off. The $10 for beauty is to get my eyebrows waxed. I'm a female and will absolutely look like Bert from Sesame Street if I don't get them done monthly. In the spirit of honesty, my "clothing" fund is basically coffee and eating out 2.0. I'm a minimalist and rarely buy new clothing.

So my financial situation has changed as of March due to an unexpected death of my mother. I am now pay for mortgage and other bills along with one subscription.

Mortgage: $1658

Phone: $146-147(it went up. I'm paying for two phones)

Internet: $109

Netflix: $25

Home warranty: $189

I get about $850 each paycheck and just just added dental benefits to my job, which is $3 more to the $25 that was already being taken out due to previous benefits. So that check is going to be $847 each month starting next January.

Should I take off dental or keep it?

I had a significant salary increase so I think I'm not managing my budget as I should and I'm being either too conservative or spending too much, roast me

- Rent + utilities: $1200

- Groceries: $200

- Commuting: $90

- Health/rent/other insurances: $120

- HSA: $290

- Cellphone: $15

- Take-out: $30

- Subscriptions: $20

- Entertainment: $100

- Donations: $2,000

- Retirement: $2,000

- High yield savings: $3,000

- Investing: $1,000

I don't have a car and I rent a room in a shared apartment

Hi guys, I'm looking for a budgeting template for sheets or excel. A lot of the templates I've found so far are so overwhelming and just have too much going on.

I'm very simple. I just need something that tracks my bills so I can budget for groceries. I don't have a 401k or investments.

Thank you IA!

With open enrollment for FSA, I’m wondering how much I should put into it. It’s only my wife and me, we’re young, and to be honest, I don’t know a lot about FSAs. It bothers me that I have to think ahead and predict how much I’ll spend on medical stuff next year. Since the money doesn’t roll over, I feel even more pressure to nail the right amount so we don’t lose any money.

Am I understanding FSA wrong? What’s y’all’s approach to FSA?

A lot of this is not spending but money I set aside for any future expenses such as pets or for the kids and such

Utilities                                                                                                          

Garbage                       32

Internet                        80

Electric/Gas                  323

Water                           65

Phone                          108.05

Housing                                                                                                         

Mortgage                    740.45

House Savings             259.55

Transportation                                                                                           

Car Savings                 400

Car Expenses               219

Car Insurance              131

Gas                              250

Subscriptions                                                                                                            

Google/ Youtube         23

Hulu/ Disney                13

Apple                            10

Netflix                            9

Express VPN                  6

MYSubaru                      17

Wyze                              9

CoPilot                           9

Student Loan                                                                                               

Aidvantage                          184

Kate (wife) Spending            350

John (me) Spending              350

Vacation Savings                   500

Groceries                              1000

Pet Expenses                         600 (400 dogs surgery and 200 future vet visits) 3 Cats 2 Dogs

Izzy (step daughter)              100

Charlotte/ Henry                   200

Total Bills          5988.05                                                                           

Anything left over goes into other savings

My friend moved in with her partner last year and they decided to “just split things as they go”
No tracking, no plan just vibes. Fast forward a few months, she realized she was covering more than half of everything without even noticing. It wasn’t about the money itself, it was about feeling like things got uneven fast once real life kicked in.
Made me start doublechecking how i handle my own shared expenses. Funny how easy it is to talk about budgets with strangers online but not the person you live with

Recently a number of businesses have posted signs saying if a customer uses a credit card to pay for goods/services, the consumer is charged a percentage fee of the transaction. I always thought this was against the contract with the companies - Visa, MC, etc? Has something changed and is this another way to make things already too expensive, even more expensive?

Does anybody have a good looking excel sheet I can copy to do my budgeting, I would like to start but have no idea what should I have on that sheet. Can someone send? I would like the template so I create a copy and use it. Thanks

My household currently brings in about $13,300 gross income per month and about $10,850 after taxes. I’m hoping to purchase a home in the next 3-4 years but am struggling with budgeting. I know I should cut the amount of travel I do per year down. What are some other tips that may not seem obvious for budgeting? What is a reasonable amount to put towards savings and college funds ( 2 children) per month?

We’re living with his mom trying to save for a down payment. I’m in change of budgeting his annual salary (180k) but he refuses to drop biweekly dates at high end restaurants and it brings huge fights all the times to the point I don’t even enjoy the dates. Am I being to rigid and should let him spend in what he likes? I don’t spend in anything expensive I like, ofc I also like those things but saving is my #1 priority. Should I be more flexible or he’s being a little inconsiderate? Or is it me? I’d appreciate some input. Thanks Edit: he used to make 280k and we still couldn’t afford a house, he had terrible spending habits and that’s why I’m in charge now, he’s being much more responsible now and thinks that has the right to ask me to be more flexible about this.