Where am I going wrong?

Towser

I feel I am ok with money and happy bumbling along spending what I am spending on. However, it feels a bit like an Iceberg at the moment not knowing what problems I am storing up for myself.
This was my 2015 Budget of what I spent my money on. Crit it and shoot it down. I have another 19 years until my pension so would like to get ahead if possible. My budget is only part of the story as my OH takes care of other things. But really am I making the best use of my Budget?



Clothing & Grooming 4581.93

Food & Drink 4102.48

Entertainment & Leisure 3015.26

Savings & Financial 2640.00

Motoring Expenses 1888.71

Household Bills & Utilities 1804.03

Childcare & Education 978.67

Home & Garden 827.54

Business & Donations 706.67

Holiday 681.67

Cash Withdrawals 542.80

Retail (Other) 349.25

Healthcare 158.60

Public Transport 112.40

Are there any obvious things that come to mind?

Luckyinlife

Clothing & Grooming 4581.93 This is more than your food bill Personally i spend maby less than 1k a year of cloths/grooming
Even if u cut this in half youd be much better off

Entertainment & Leisure 3015.26 maby look at this also ? i am all for enjoying life tho so enjoy it :]

Business & Donations 706.67 dont know how much donations where but i do bit for charity but remember life is at home first so dont give it away if you feel like things are not right just yet :]

Whats your targets in life ? do you want to save more ? pay mortgage off ? enjoy life to the full ?

Towser

Luckyinlife thanks for the advise.

I want to enjoy life to the full but started to become a MFW because I felt I was maybe wasting my money.

If I won the lottery I would spend it on property, cars, holidays, education and my pension.

Clothing & Grooming yes I could easily cut this in half. This was a particularly heavy year for me as the year previously was around £2545. This is for myself and two boys aged 9 and 10 and occasionally the odd bit of clothing for OH.

Entertainment & Leisure has always been about the same so don't hold to much hope for that one but will try to target it somehow.

The food bill was the first budget to be targeted three years ago and have got it down just by switching to Aldi.

All monies saved will be put towards next car as I don't "do" debt and will have to have the money in the bank.

Towser

Have I done any better this year? This is not counting the end of Oct, Nov and Dec of course.
I spend for a family of four. OH spends important stuff such as mortgage and electric. You can see the proportions I spend in.

All categories Amount (£)
Total money out 17730.36
Food & Drink
4385.37
Entertainment & Leisure
2373.95
Savings & Financial
2200.00
Clothing & Grooming
2073.58
Uncategorised
1919.87
Household Bills & Utilities
1552.82
Cash Withdrawals
1121.41
Childcare & Education
513.00
Bank Payments & Transfers
510.50
Home & Garden
278.63
Retail (Other)
254.20
Motoring Expenses
219.38
Business & Donations
206.77
Holiday
55.83
Healthcare
55.60
Public Transport
9.45