Savings: Where the money goes

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How does your spending measure up?
By Libby Wells • Bankrate.com

Print out this table to see how you compare with the rest of the nation.

CATEGORY	IDEAL* (monthly expenditure)		ACTUAL* (monthly expenditure)		YOURS (monthly expenditure)
Housing	$1375	30%	$1557	34%
Food	$733	16%	$874	19%
Transportation	$688	15%	$829	18.1%
Life/health insurance, medical bills	$458 (if you don't have employee insurance or aren't with an HMO or PPO)	10%	$227	5%
Savings	$458	10%	$110	2.4%
Entertainment	$320	7%	$286	6.2%
Clothes	$229	5%	$203	4.2%
Other debts	$229	5%	$362	7.9%
Misc.	$92	2%	$148	3.2%
Figures are based on two-income family of four (husband, wife, 2 kids), with an annual after-tax income of $55,000. Amounts and percentages are rounded off.
Sources: Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Commerce, and Center for Financial Responsibility at Texas Tech University

Related information: More savings news Search the latest savings rates The basics: Savings Definitions: Banking terms

-- Posted: Feb. 8, 2000

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