re: Stupid budget question

quote:

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Savings
Living
Misc(light bill, etc, and entertainment)
Transportation
Food
Medical
Debt

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Way too many categories IMO. Consolidate it. You don't have to be exact as you can always shift around funds.

Here is how my budget analysis was when I considered taking on a new job and was weighing the difference in salaries

Mandatory = Everything that HAS to be paid monthly. (Mortgage, insurance, gas, car not, cell phone, utilities, etc...)
Retirement = 401k, IRA, Funds
Savings = Combo of money for future big purchase and emergency fund (Do not put money for retirement here as it won't earn shite, roll it into your 401k/IRA/Mutual Funds)
Play Money = Money for shopping and dining out that isn't included in my "mandatory" category.

I think my %s were 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%...

Any extra money that is left over, I end up moving into Retirement Accounts.

Hope that helps... You will likely take combination of multiple peoples plans and make your own.