
The same goes for maintenance costs such as inspections and oil changes. If you own a car, you may need to add a car payment and auto insurance to your budget. Whether you own a vehicle or use another type of transportation, you’ll want to include those costs in your budget. Taking showers, running the dishwasher, doing laundry, watering your lawn and flushing your toilet can all contribute to the cost.

Utilities are another important expense related to housing. Other expenses-maintenance, for example-need to be added to your budget and paid separately. Property taxes are generally part of a mortgage payment-so you likely won’t need to add them to your budget. In addition to a mortgage or rent payment, costs may include insurance, maintenance and property taxes. Whether you own your own home or pay rent, the cost of housing is likely your biggest monthly expense. The first step is knowing which monthly bills to include in your budget, so you don’t spend more than you make.Ĭommon expenses to include in your budget include: What monthly expenses should I include in a budget?Ĭreating a budget can help you start to gain control over your finances, get out of debt and plan for the future. Since variable expenses can be based on daily spending, it can be important to pay attention to them so you don’t overspend.

It can help you see what you pay over time in variable expenses and make changes as necessary.Įxamples of variable expenses include groceries, utilities, gas, dining out, clothing and personal care. That’s where budgeting can come in handy.

Variable expenses change regularly, which can make them harder to track and plan for. No matter how often you pay fixed expenses, their regularity can make them easier to budget for.
#Most common monthly expenses professional#
These types might include HOA payments, insurance payments and professional association dues. But fixed expenses can also be due quarterly or annually. Most commonly, they occur monthly-like rent, mortgage payments or car payments. Here’s more about those two types of expenses:įixed expenses don’t change. And some will vary-they’re known as variable expenses. For example, some of your payments won’t change from month to month-they’re known as fixed expenses. When organizing your expenses, you’ll want to put them in easy-to-manage categories.
