


To calculate the average amount you spend on groceries, for example, add up all of your grocery spending during the past three months and divide by three. But fixed utilities, such as electric and gas, and variable costs, such as dining and household goods, often fluctuate month-to-month, so you'll need to do some math to find the average.įor these categories and any where you spending changes from month-to-month, determine the average monthly cost by looking at three months worth of spending. For example, debt repayment on a mortgage or auto loan will cost the same each month. You can look up your spending on bank and credit card statements.įixed expenses are easier to list on your budget than variable expenses since the cost is generally the same month-to-month. After you separate fixed and variable expenses, list how much you spend on each expense per month.
