In an attempt to reel this back into topic and away from the "Do you need a Degree thread" I will go percentages:
I crunch these numbers all the time. I am blessed that my wife is a stay at home mother / homemaker to our (3) children. In order for us to pull this all off, we analyze and review the numbers often. Probably monthly, possibly every other month.
Demographic for consideration: 3 teenage sons, (5) active vehicles. Our house is 100% Electric (minus gas fireplace).
Salary - 29% Payroll deductions: fica, mica, FAMILY health insurance, dental, 401K contributions.
The percentages going forward now will be based on AFTER payroll deduction income.
21% - Debt Repayment
05% - Phones & Internet
04% - Electric Bill
14% - Gasoline
10% - Savings
So by percentages our LIVING EXPENSES would be calculated to be 17%.
Groceries are by FAR a large portion of our living expenses. Again, reference to that whole 3 teenage boys thing.
I fully expect most comments on this will be targeting our gasoline. This by far is the conversation my wife and I have every single month. It is truly amazing how much gas (5) vehicles can go through for a family who lives 10 miles out of town (away from school) constantly coming and going.
Our interesting tidbit is each payday we sweep what is ever left over in our checking account to a savings account, then proceed to start over with the fresh payroll deposit. That typical sweep is how I came up with the 10%.