What did you forget in your budget planning?
We are going FT next spring and, being the overplanner that I am, I have about a dozen different budgets. I'm curious about other peoples' experience with budgeting, specifically what budget line item...
Forum Discussion
For my family of 4, my biggest surprise expenses were:
1) Laundry. We did 6-8 loads of laundry weekly at $3-6/load at the campground laundry facilities. We now have a washer/dryer combo.
2) My auto insurance increased slightly but my full-timer insurance *tripled* when I change my residency to Florida.
3) As mentioned above, our "edutainment" costs have sky rocketed as we sight-see in new areas. Additionally, we do long days and our "restaurants" budget has increased; we can pack 1 meal, but not 2.
4) Grocery costs have increased with the smaller fridge/pantry. We buy groceries more often.
5) Not surprisingly, our Internet + phone expenses have risen dramatically. I work a "normal" 9-5 job and require unlimited Internet (my actual usage is 100-125gb/month). Couple that with a bigger data plan on phones as a backup hotspot. And I spend a good $300+ per month for 3 phones and 2 hotspots.
Good luck!
1) Laundry. We did 6-8 loads of laundry weekly at $3-6/load at the campground laundry facilities. We now have a washer/dryer combo.
2) My auto insurance increased slightly but my full-timer insurance *tripled* when I change my residency to Florida.
3) As mentioned above, our "edutainment" costs have sky rocketed as we sight-see in new areas. Additionally, we do long days and our "restaurants" budget has increased; we can pack 1 meal, but not 2.
4) Grocery costs have increased with the smaller fridge/pantry. We buy groceries more often.
5) Not surprisingly, our Internet + phone expenses have risen dramatically. I work a "normal" 9-5 job and require unlimited Internet (my actual usage is 100-125gb/month). Couple that with a bigger data plan on phones as a backup hotspot. And I spend a good $300+ per month for 3 phones and 2 hotspots.
Good luck!
