Budget Shock
Today we went through our monthly expenses. We’be been keeping track pretty closely on what we spend per month on everything – rent, food, entertainment, car, vacation, baby – and so tonight we started entering in all the receipts to total up how much we go through in a month.
I was shocked at the number. We don’t exactly live a high-roller lifestyle but don’t skimp on things either. We spend a reasonably high amount on food, buying good-quality groceries but not being extravagant. We pick and choose our things wisely and make the most of sales and specials to stock up on the things we like. We take a few little trips or mini-vacations during the year, things like a weekend away or perhaps she will join me on a work trip for a few days. And then we had our big get-away to the Canyonlands this fall. But nothing what I would call lavish or luxury.
So I had a mini heart-attack when I realized what our average monthly costs are over the past 9 months. Granted the largest chunk of that is rent which we can’t avoid and probably can’t reduce very much without a significant relocation. But the number is quite a bit higher than I was expecting and one that will mean living on one income alone would be extremely tight.
I was grumpy for the rest of the evening. I guess somewhere in my head I wanted to believe that I could support the family alone, or at least that only one of us would have to work once baby Peach arrives. Mom-to-Be is a nurse with a rotating shift of 12-hour days and nights, so managing the kid with both of us working is going to require daycare if not a nanny. But her irregular schedule makes it even more difficult as I will have to ensure that I’m able to leave work and pick up Peach at the appropriate times no matter what.
My ideal world would be that I could work from home at my own business and have the luxury of then looking after Peach as required. But since that’s not reality and won’t be for the forseeable future, I’m just going to have to figure out how this is all going to work.
