Monthly Spending Money
How much extra cash do you all have to spend freely? I have about $500.00 a month and it goes so quick!
Larry 
Funny lady I am not sure what you mean about money to spend freely. I have a budget and all my money is accounted for. There is money for entertainment, food, utilities, mortgage, taxes, gas, and also some to savings and my 401K. You should have 6 months of savings, no credit card debt, and no mortgage if you have $500 to spend freely otherwise you are just blowing $6000 a year you could use more wisely.
MK I agree with you MK.
I was also confused about what the "money to spend freely" meant.
I also think rather than the suggested 6 months of savings - that having a year of liquid savings is a wiser safety net.
hapiest girlI would love to go on a budget and not sure how to start. I know that may sound silly but I don't know how to start or how to do it. Any help Or suggestions would be great.
Summer15 " if you have $500 to spend freely otherwise you are just blowing $6000 a year you could use more wisely."
At the same time you work so you can enjoy things.
Nosila 
Buffy MK, would it make you feel better if he said that he had $500 a month "budgeted for recreation"? That's pretty much what it boils down to...
ianimal Me: $250-350/month to spend on things I truly don't need (like art glass for my collection). That's "blow it" money, and is after everything else is taken care of (clothes, beauty/hair, restaurants, endless animal needs, etc.).
Rebecka "having a year of liquid savings is a wiser safety net."
Couldn't agree more... that's why I have 52 bottles of bourbon on hand at any given time (-;
GC Entertainment is part of my budget, tickets to shows, dinners out, pay per view, and I do enjoy my money, just don't waste it. I have a small side business that is not in my budget that supports my "extras" if I want. I also intend to live a nice long enjoyable life and trying to work out spending my last dime on my last day LOL.
I was referring to money you could burn in a fire and not care about. The money you might classify as entertainment. After paying the bills. Hope that is clear enough.
"Burn in a fire and not care about??" $00000000!! Always have to care about the last penny. Enjoy Larry! Glad you can do that. I'll be there one day. : )
botheredbyuu2 Wonder what your age is, Larry...... and if you already have a retirement savings plan in place that will be sufficient taking inflation into account.
If you had $5000 saved, and added $500 each month to it, in 30 years you would have over 1/2 million dollars at a 6% yield.
At 10% yield you would have more than a million --- $1,229,000.
Enjoy your money -- but don't be reckless!
Maybe save half of the$500.00 and open a 401k or buy some big cap stocks with it. Glad you have some extra to play with.
mansfield mama Lol, you people. I didn't ask for advice. Financially I'm doing just fine. I was simpmy curious how much money you all had to spend freely each month after your bills, 401k, retirements or whatever else is paid.
If it's money you can burn and not care, why not use it to help someone who can't afford food, housing, medications , etc., let alone entertainment. Pay it forward!
sparksjbc1964 I think the problem here is asking such a personal question. Without knowing the demographics, perhaps you're talking to folks who are just making ends meet let alone have $500 of discretionary income.
+1 sparks.
PS I would love to know how some track their budget. I have tried spreadsheets and mint.com but get bogged down in the details.
honey badger if it wasn't such a personal question, you would have more responses. I guess people here are used to giving advice more than answering a random persons survey about disposable income. Also, the "you people" comment sort of rubs me the wrong way.
To answer your question, I could spend almost any amount I wanted but I choose to save my money. That is why I could spend almost any amount I wanted.
You know it's funny; I count everything in minutiae, save a good amount, work to build my little nest egg, but I really don't count spending money. Utilities, food, upkeep, saving percentage, mortgage, taxes, ROI, business case for any project, but spending money. Not really.
In minutiae. I mean I can tell you how much for food including store discounts, mfg counts, avg price per unit, yearly inflation --- it's sick. For taxes, all amount for decades, as well as percentages for inflation, marginal tax rates, etc. etc. Sick again.
If I had to look at spending money, it would be crazy with many very low months followed by a trip to Vegas...... Basically if it's left over I spend it. Guess I should count it but seems like keeping fun on a budget ruins the fun. I do have my limits, I didn't order the Porsche as my next vacation rental. Not that I wasn't tempted.
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