A few years back, a friend told me my ‘numbers blogs’ were boring. She was right, but I couldn’t help it; I love numbers.
I found this table of my monthly expenses from a blog I’d written in July 2021 and thought I’d update it to show my monthly expenses now and what a difference 4 years can make.
I was more than surprised, I was amazed.
| MONTHLY EXPENSE | JUL 2021 | AUG 2025 |
| RENT | 790.00 | 880.00 |
| XFINITY TV/PHONE/INTERNET | 234.00 | 80.00 |
| HEALTH INSURANCE | 145.00 | 55.00 |
| GROCERIES | 240.00 | 320.00 |
| UTILITIES - ELECTRIC | 45.00 | 55.00 |
| KEURIG COFFEE SUBSCRIPTION | 40.00 | 45.00 |
| BARBERSHOP | 20.00 | 25.00 |
| RENTERS INSURANCE | 10.00 | 10.00 |
| DENTAL INSURANCE | 15.00 | 0 |
| AMBULANCE INSURANCE | 8.00 | 8.00 |
| PRESCRIPTIONS | 15.00 | 0 |
| STREAMING SERVICES | 20.00 | 35.00 |
| CELLPHONE (T-MOBILE, MINT) | 65.00 | 20.00 |
| DINING OUT | 50.00 | 75.00 |
| STORE SHOPPING | 150.00 | 200.00 |
| ONLINE SHOPPING | 225.00 | 250.00 |
| LUNCHES AT SENIOR CENTER | 0 | 25.00 |
JULY 2021 MONTHLY TOTAL: $2082.00
AUG 2025 MONTHLY TOTAL: $2082.00
They came out to the same monthly total! That was the last thing I expected. I should add that while my monthly totals look low, I wind up spending 4-5K more in the year.
High priced items like a new phone or tablet, donations to my favorite charities over the holidays, medical & dental bills. But still, the “minimum spending” list above… strange how the total dollar amount remained the same.
But like I said, there’s always other expenses. I’m meeting with an oral surgeon today at 1:30 to discuss a bone graft and implant bridge that will run $7500.00 or more.
And a year from now, my monthly health insurance is going to QUADRUPLE when I’m kicked off Pennie (the ACA Health Exchange in Pennsylvania) and forced go on Medicare.
It sucks getting old but it beats the alternative!
I think that's rather amazing. I should try the same, but I know I am paying more now.
ReplyDeleteThanks DJan, I still find it hard to believe. But thanks to Biden, my health insurance did drop a good bit during his term in office. I hope you're still doing well following your surgery.
DeleteI'm not a numbers person but this was not a boring post. Really wild that your totals came out the same. You are really lucky to have such low health insurance. Ours dropped dramatically with Medicare but we live in an expensive state. 😏
ReplyDeleteThank you Bobi. And yes I've been very lucky in regards to my health insurance premiums the last 2 years. I'm really going to be sorry to give that up when I turn 65.
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