My wife and I worked on our budget/expenses last evening.
By the time we were finished (and I don't think we were excessive in anything), we have less than $100 left over each month. This is, of course, not counting the credit cards - that would put us waaaay in the hole.
We allowed for $900 per month in childcare expenses for two children, ages 1 (full day) and 5 (before & after school). We got this figure from a day care place that was advertising at my son's Kindergarten registration last week.
Currently, my mom has been watching my children, but this is going to stop soon since my oldest will be going off to school in the fall and my Mom will be unavailable.
Is it proper to include the childcare expenses in the budget? We have not had to pay them now, but we will absolutely be paying them come September.
ps - it was eye-opening going through this process. Having to account for and set aside money for things like auto maintenance, home maintenance made me realize just how important it is to budget. These are things we have always had to charge - one of the many reasons we are under such a massive debt load.
thanks
By the time we were finished (and I don't think we were excessive in anything), we have less than $100 left over each month. This is, of course, not counting the credit cards - that would put us waaaay in the hole.
We allowed for $900 per month in childcare expenses for two children, ages 1 (full day) and 5 (before & after school). We got this figure from a day care place that was advertising at my son's Kindergarten registration last week.
Currently, my mom has been watching my children, but this is going to stop soon since my oldest will be going off to school in the fall and my Mom will be unavailable.
Is it proper to include the childcare expenses in the budget? We have not had to pay them now, but we will absolutely be paying them come September.
ps - it was eye-opening going through this process. Having to account for and set aside money for things like auto maintenance, home maintenance made me realize just how important it is to budget. These are things we have always had to charge - one of the many reasons we are under such a massive debt load.
thanks