We spent about $3,470 in April and it was actually below the monthly budget of $3,500! After including this month’s expenditure, we have managed to lower our average expenditure this year to $4,150.
The expenditure on categories like food, groceries and clothes remain pretty wanton. There’s really no conscious attempt to curb those shopping instincts when I am at NTUC or Uniqlo and the Mrs was pretty accommodating since it was my birthday month!
So looking forward to a break in two weeks’ time when all the mid years will be over and we would be jacking up the expenses in Melbourne.
Eating Out: $554.60
Hawker ($74.60) – I really barely ate out at hawker centres or food courts for the past month. In fact, I don’t recall buying anything from the cai peng stall near my house the past two months. Cooking my lunches is fast becoming an ingrained habit.
Fast Food ($79.70) – We had a big Mac meal together with the Mrs’ family at Punggol Safra! And we tried Wing Stop for the first time. We really enjoyed the wings and the Cajun fries.
Restaurants ($400.30) – It’s my birthday month so this is considered really reasonable since it included a crab meal at Tunglok Central. It also included a reasonable tip to a service staff whom we both liked.
Groceries: $360.50
Supermarket ($226.50) – 9 visits to NTUC in total. Mostly fruits, vegetables and ice-cream!
Wet Market ($134) – 4 visits to the Kovan wet market. I am a sucker for repetition and I am definitely enjoying my treats of Halibut steak once or twice a week.
Beverages & Snacks: $49.50
Snacks ($45.80) – Popcorn from Garrett, a Ya Kun breakfast toast together, a yoghurt from Milk and Honey of course, some slices of cakes for my birthday.
Beverages ($3.70) –1 cups of Koi green tea
Utilities: $144.87
Electricity, Gas & Water ($48.32) – Electricity usage was much higher at 290kWh for this month. 33KWh of gas and 7.8 Cu M of water meant the bill added up to $98.32. The U Save vouchers reduced the bill by $50.
Cellphones ($96.55) – $51.55 for me and $45 for the Mrs for our mobile services. Mine comes with upsized data.
Transport: $56
1 EZ Reload transaction for the Mrs and none for me. And a $6 Grab Share ride.
Departmental: $277.90
Clothes ($254.90) – A refresh for some of my running attire from Decathlon. Bought some gloves to protect my palms for pull-up training and also managed to stock up some T shirts, berms and underwear from Uniqlo.
Books ($23) – Bought 2 story books as presents for our students.
Miscellaneous: $342.10
Gifts ($160) – Bought a Starbucks card as a present for one of my students and ang baos for a baby shower and another housewarming.
Others ($182.10) – Bought two ink toners for the printer and replaced the drum. The EnergyOne Gym non-peak membership at Punggol Safra costs $42 and after building up to a baseline, will be reverting back to my in-law’s gym for the next couple of months.
Total: $1,785.47
Overall Total: $3,470.47 (included fixed expenses of $1,685)
I have been following your blog for the past month and it has been a great inspiration to me around planning for FI and moving into quarter retirement zone etc. keep those post coming, it really helped me a lot!
Hi Von,
A really big thank you to you! I often wonder whether these monthly updates appear too narcissistic so I am glad that after more than 3 years, there are still readers that find them helpful and useful!
All the best in your personal finance journey!
It must take a lot of discipline to track all those expenses. I tried but failed myself. So, I can understand how tough it is. Well done and keep it up.
Hi Warriortan,
Well, there is no failure. I think most of the “gains” come from those few months of tracking.
If you are still interested in tracking, just try again.
i always buy cheap ice-cream or those on promo in NTUC!
I studied in the US before, the haagan daz ice-cream for one pint tub is only US$5 on promo!!
One crate (2 dozens) of excellent apple cider is less than US$20
How do you feel after reading this? =P
Ben & jerrys and HD are way tooo exp in SG!!
SG is too exp for branded ice-cream, alcohol, clothes and everything else, except for cheap hawker food
Hi lucas,
I guess if you could afford to, no point indulging in a couple of tubs of Haagan Dazs once in a while. After all, it doesn’t make sense to fly to US just to enjoy these stuff at lower prices.
I agree with your take that many stuff in SG are more expensive as compared to some other countries. But maybe if you enjoy some of them, just have to reduce the frequency instead of barring them?
wow how did u manage to keep your transport costs so low? mine was average about $120~
Hi jen,
I guess it helps that I generally work from home or within a 10 mins walking radius from home.