Full List of Monthly Expenses

Do you want to get better control of your finances? Before you decide on a budget strategy, you need to know where your money is going. And the best way to find out where your money is going is to create a monthly expenses list.

What is a monthly expenses list, and why should you make one?

A monthly expenses list is a list of everything you spend money on in a given month. To make your spending easier to track, you can divide your monthly expenses into broad categories like these:

• Housing
• Transportation
• Healthcare
• Groceries and home essentials
• Restaurants, takeout, and food delivery services
• Subscriptions and entertainment
• Debt payments

This list gives you a clear idea of where every dollar is going.

It also makes it easy to identify where your budget is “leaking.” For instance, you might realize that you’re spending $20 a month on two subscriptions you don’t use or that you spent $200 on food delivery last month. 

What goes on a monthly expenses list?

As long as you remember to include all of your expenses, there’s no right or wrong way to organize your list. These are some common categories, but feel free to rearrange them as you see fit.

Housing and related costs

Housing is the largest item on many people’s budgets. Along with rent or mortgage payments, this category might include living expenses like these:

• Homeowners’ or renters’ insurance
• Utilities
• Property taxes
• HOA fees

If you’re running short on money one month, make sure to prioritize housing-related expenses. Keeping a roof over your head is vital.

Transportation

Transportation may also make up a significant part of your budget. These transportation expenses tend to remain stable from month to month.

• Car payments
• Car insurance
• Gas
• Parking fees
• Tolls
• Bus and train passes

Other transportation expenses, such as registration renewal, oil changes, regular maintenance, and car repairs. are more variable. Add up the average yearly cost of these infrequent expenses and divide that number by 12 to include them in your monthly expenses list.

Groceries and household supplies 

This category includes food and basic household essentials, such as toilet paper and cleaning supplies.

Health and personal care

Staying healthy can sometimes be expensive. This category may include some or all of the following:

• Health insurance premiums
• Medical visit copays
• Prescription copays
• Gym memberships
• Wellness apps
• Haircuts

You can also include grooming products like shampoo, body wash, and hair styling products in this category. 

Pet care

If you have pets, don’t forget to include their expenses, too! Add a category for pet food, vet bills, grooming supplies, and all related costs.

Entertainment, lifestyle, and discretionary spending

This broad category includes nonessential items and other variable expenses:

• Streaming subscriptions
• Dining out
• Takeout and food delivery services
• Clothing and shoes
• Hobbies
• Movies and concerts

In months when you make less than normal or are short on cash, this is an area where you can usually cut expenses.

Savings and debt payments

Whether you’re barely keeping up or you’re trying to aggressively pay off your debts, you should keep track of the following:

• Minimum debt payments
• Extra payments toward debt
• Contributions to your emergency fund or savings account
• Contributions to your retirement accounts

When you keep track of your other expenses, it’s easier to understand how much you can save or put toward paying off debt. If you have a surplus one month, consider contributing a little extra to reach your financial goals faster.

Miscellaneous expenses

You probably have some expenses that fall outside of the typical budget categories. When you’re tracking your spending, don’t forget to include these extra costs, too!

Need help keeping track of your expenses?

Many people who try to keep track of their finances get busy or overwhelmed. That makes it harder to stay consistent. If you want to build healthy financial habits, you need a tool that makes tracking your expenses simple.

That’s where we can help. Grant Cash Advance tools allow you to track money flow and manage your upcoming bills. We even offer spending insights to help you save money and stay within your budget.

Whether you want to access cash advances of $25 to $500 when needed, get connected to our money-management tools, or both, we’re here for you. No credit check is required to sign up. Download our app and see if you qualify for an advance today!