{"id":227,"date":"2013-03-18T10:25:51","date_gmt":"2013-03-18T14:25:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/runningahousehold.com\/?p=227"},"modified":"2013-03-17T23:01:38","modified_gmt":"2013-03-18T03:01:38","slug":"monthly-expense-tracker-its-not-what-you-make-its-what-you-spend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/runningahousehold.com\/?p=227","title":{"rendered":"Monthly Expense Tracker: It’s not what you make, it’s what you spend"},"content":{"rendered":"

A family friend always told me, \u201cIt\u2019s not what you make, it\u2019s what you spend.\u201d\u00a0 Think about it.\u00a0 There are families who\u00a0earn $50,000 and are doing\u00a0okay because they live within their means.\u00a0 There are also people who\u00a0earn $75,000 – $200,000 who are broke or going bankrupt.\u00a0 Certainly, everyone needs to have a decent source of income.\u00a0 Once that need is met, it really is all about the spending.\u00a0 And we are all experts at spending, aren’t we?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Since it\u2019s all about the spending, we have a special assignment for you.\u00a0 It\u2019s time to take a quick look at where you are spending your money.\u00a0 If you can name your top 5 monthly expenses right now, then you\u2019re exempt from this assignment.\u00a0 Otherwise, pull out your bank statements and let\u2019s get to work.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Step 1: Print two copies of the following chart to track your spending.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Monthly Expense Tracker<\/a><\/p>\n

Plan to fill out a monthly expense tracker for last month, and another one for the month before.\u00a0 This way you will have two months of statements to review.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Step 2: Gather the resources needed for this project:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n