I’m still only half functioning, but I’ve had this post about ready to go for a few weeks (and it’s been such a long time since a budget post and this being a semi personal finance blog! ha!), so here goes…..
Our base budget for 2013. The numbers highlight how I’m desperately trying to keep our monthly costs around the same level year in year out …..despite what the economy throws at us all.
In my mind I like to think that I stick to these budget lines every month, but I don’t. I try to, and combined with my daily spending diary they are a great guideline, so for now, I’ll have to be happy with that 
Miscellaneous expenses not included above that we add to the budget when required:
- Travel
- Dental costs
- Eye tests & glasses
- Replacement electrics
- Home repairs
- Home decor
- Haircuts (me)
- Clothing
- Eating Out
- Website costs
- National Insurance (me)
I’ve highlighted in orange the two budget lines I still feel like I spend too much on, but try to justify (to myself!). Our travel spending delays our mortgage freedom by 12 months – at the moment we’re happy with that, but this may change. As for the home decor spending – I may go cold turkey for 12 months! 
Yep, I try to do the same – absorb the cost of inflation. I also use a budget as a guideline – I don’t discipline myself to stick to it 100%, but it keeps me making more good decisions than bad.