(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Kitchen Table Kibitzing: Budgeting [1] ['Chitown Kev'] Date: 2026-06-04 Let’s talk finances this evening. First up for me was taking a hard look at my bank statements for the past few months. I was really surprised to discover that my debits were much higher in May than I expected. I spent a few hours tightening some financial screws, taking immediate steps where possible to cut back on expenses. Spent about an hour cancelling my subscriptions to streaming services (Peacock, Paramount+) and SniffSpot. I rarely use these services and only took my dog to one Sniffspot in the three months I’ve been shelling out $26. Scrolling through my statement, I wasn’t surprised that the biggest expense I have right now is Maisie. What with doggie day care, pet insurance, food, and training, the past few months have really shaved money from my checking account. Thankfully, her behavioral problems have really improved and the most significant one I’m dealing with now is her separation anxiety. And that’s just a matter of me putting in the effort to follow the protocol. Next upI is my grocery shopping. I’ve just been habitually buying my food from the neighborhood supermarket which is probably right up there with the most high end grocery stores in the whole county. The habit is fed by the fact that I have this morning routine where I walk the dog and then go to the store for a corn muffin and pick up my groceries while I’m there. Don’t buy much (I’m one of those people who will eat it if it’s in the house!) but most people I know won’t shop there anymore because of the prices. I’m just going to have to figure I’ll need to opt out of convenience and opt in for finding bargains. I know, for example, that the sparkling water I love to drink every day is $1 less a bottle in a store two exits up the freeway from me. Trader Joe’s is about ten minutes away for cleaning supplies. Target is a mile away for cheaper coffee, coffee filters, and paper products. What I’m not ready to give up is my gym membership and 1/2 hour training sessions twice a week. Not only is that helping me to kick start my fitness again, it’s also helping me get out there and socialize with people. I added a third day to my routine and I’m going every Monday with a woman I know from the dog park. I”m figuring – hoping actually – that after a few months working with a trainer I’ll know enough to do exercises on my own. After all this work and thought, I realized that what I’m really aiming to do successfully is to set up a budget. I don’t think I’ve had one at all in the past 50 years! According to Nerdwallet, there are five steps to take: A budgeting system is a plan for how to use your money. Everyone has different habits, personality types and approaches to managing money, and there are systems that can fit your lifestyle. Every budget should cover your needs, some wants and savings for emergencies and the future. Examples of budgeting systems include the envelope system, the zero-based budget, and the 50/30/20 budget, in which 50% of your take-home pay goes toward necessities, 30% toward wants and 20% toward savings and retirement. What about you? What changes have you made in your life in terms of money and what are the things you feel you have to hold onto? And what’s gas going for in your area? [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/6/4/800049357/community/kitchen-table-kibitzing-budgeting/ Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/