[boothev]

Household income from 2004 year: $45k.

Income/Net Per Month = $2200 (me) and $300 (DH in paycheck, add probably $400 in tips)
Income/Rental Property = $700 (from a house we could not sell, a reliable cousin has moved in and she wants to buy the house. She can't buy it soon enough!)

WAMU = $840 (primary)
Chase = $700 (rental)

Water = $50
Car Ins = $132
Phone = $60
Cable = $55
Metlife = $20 (term)
Metlife - $24 (term)
Gas = $133 (budget)
Cell = $60
OTTA = $15 (CollegeAdvantage)
Electric = $50
Trash = $13

Visa = $30 min payment, Balance is $1500

Fun = $0

Gas = $200 (I put 450 miles/week for my commute, DH delivers pizza)
Preschool Tuition = $100
Prescription Meds = $60
Car Repair = $0
Internet = $0
Vacation = $0
Emergency Fund = $25

Now all the extra notes:

If there is a $0, then I WANT to budget for it, but cannot right now. We just scramble for the $$ when the bill comes. Reactive, not proactive.

DH is a SAHD in the daytime, saving daycare, but works at night. Kids are 4 and 2 years old. Hopefully, the younger one will be out of diapers soon! DH is med-controlled epileptic, so I think it maybe hard to drop any life insurance on him. I wondered if I should drop the Metlife for me, DH and my policies through them are only worth $50k. I get awesome life and medical through work. Should I drop Metlife for both of us? I cover him and myself at the highest amounts through work.

We own both our cars (2002, 108k miles, and 2003, 80k miles). I work 45 miles away from home. I spend 10 hours/week in the car just getting to work, then I hand the car off to DH for delivering. We are trying to baby the 80k mile car, keep it under 100k for as long as possible.

I get pretty good raises through work. But have 401k loans that have chipped away my take home pay. My goal for this tax season was to pay off some loans, thereby increasing my take home pay. Or, saving up for an Emergency Fund. I know one 401k loan is down to $700, paid off, it would add $80/month to may take home pay. the other two loans paid off would add $220/month to my take home pay.

I always assumed things would get easier (and they have in the last couple of years) with payraises and kids getting out of diapers. No more formula, etc.

If I wanted to get serious, I guess I would stop CollegeAdvantage, Cable, and Cellphone.

Okay, let me have it! I THINK I am ready to hear what I already know deep down inside.