How much do people spend per month on average?
In 2021, average monthly expenses ranged from $3,405 for one person to $7,400 for a family of five or more.
In 2021, average monthly expenses ranged from $3,405 for one person to $7,400 for a family of five or more.
Enter Your Monthly Income
50% of your net income should go towards living expenses and essentials (Needs), 20% of your net income should go towards debt reduction and savings (Debt Reduction and Savings), and 30% of your net income should go towards discretionary spending (Wants).
Average Daily Spending by Americans of All Ages | |
---|---|
Groceries | $11.95 |
Housing (Rent/Homeownership) | $32.59 |
Utilities | $10.51 |
Health Insurance | $9.35 |
Change Your Spending Habits
He suggested following a 75/15/10 financial system for every dollar you earn. Following this approach, you would spend a maximum of 75 cents, invest a minimum of 15 cents and save a minimum of 10 cents.
Frequently asked questions. What is the average cost of living in the US? The average cost of living in the United States is estimated to be between $2,500 and $3,500 per month, depending on your location and lifestyle. This includes housing, food, transportation, health care, taxes, and other expenses.
Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | |
---|---|---|
Top Earners | $105,000 | $8,750 |
75th Percentile | $68,500 | $5,708 |
Average | $58,563 | $4,880 |
25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 |
Saving $1,000 per month can be a good sign, as it means you're setting aside money for emergencies and long-term goals. However, if you're ignoring high-interest debt to meet your savings goals, you might want to switch gears and focus on paying off debt first.
- Rent: $850.
- Groceries: $250.
- Cellphone: $60.
- Electricity/Water/Gas: $250.
- Health Care: $31.
- Public Transportation: $100.
- Entertainment: $209.
How much you should save a month. For many people, the 50/30/20 rule is a great way to split up monthly income. This budgeting rule states that you should allocate 50 percent of your monthly income for essentials (such as housing, groceries and gas), 30 percent for wants and 20 percent for savings.
How much does the average person spend on good?
Spending money on food is nonnegotiable; we have to eat. And you've likely gotten more used to buying groceries and eating at home since the pandemic struck. On average, groceries cost between $250 and $550 per month for one person.
Average 2021 household earning and expenditure statistics | |
---|---|
Household earnings | $87,431 |
Total household expenditures | $66,928 |
Housing expenditures | $22,624 |
Transportation expenditures | $10,961 |

Try a simple budgeting plan. We recommend the popular 50/30/20 budget to maximize your money. In it, you spend roughly 50% of your after-tax dollars on necessities, no more than 30% on wants, and at least 20% on savings and debt repayment.
The value 72 is a convenient choice of numerator, since it has many small divisors: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 12. It provides a good approximation for annual compounding, and for compounding at typical rates (from 6% to 10%); the approximations are less accurate at higher interest rates.
It's an easy way to calculate just how long it's going to take for your money to double. Just take the number 72 and divide it by the interest rate you hope to earn. That number gives you the approximate number of years it will take for your investment to double.
The Rule of 100 says that under 100, percentage discounts seem larger than absolute ones. But over 100, things reverse. Over 100, absolute discounts seem larger than percentage ones.
The most recent data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that American consumers spend the most money on housing. In 2021, the average US consumer spent $22,624 on housing, which made up one-third (33.8%) of their total annual expenditure.
Monaco is the most expensive country to live in, with a cost of living of $3,585 per month. Other expensive countries to live in include the Cayman Islands, Switzerland, and Singapore, all of which have a cost of living of over $2,000 per month.
State | Single | Family of four |
---|---|---|
U.S. average | $26,093 – $78,280 | $52,187 – $156,560 |
Alabama | $22,597 – $67,791 | $45,194 – $135,581 |
Alaska | $27,502 – $82,507 | $55,005 – $165,015 |
Arizona | $25,024 – $75,071 | $50,047 – $150,141 |
The federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees is $7.25 per hour.
Is $3000 a month good?
Whether $3000 a month is good for you depends on the number of family members you have and the quality of living you want to sustain. If you're single and don't have a family to take care of, $3000 is enough to get you through the month comfortably.
Pew draws on the same formula used in the SmartAsset report, defining the middle class as those with incomes between two-thirds and twice the national median income. That works out to a national salary range of roughly $52,000 to $156,000 in 2020 dollars for a three-person household.
More than one in five Americans have no emergency savings
This is up from 27 percent of people in 2022. Nearly one in four (22 percent) U.S. adults say they have no emergency savings. Despite economic challenges, the percentage remains relatively unchanged year-over-year.
If you were to save $50 each week, that would result in an annual savings of $2,600. Over the span of 30 years, that's $78,000.
With $400,000, if you buy an annuity at age 62 and then retire, you might expect monthly payments of around $2,400 for the rest of your life. This comes to about $28,800 per year in guaranteed income according to one estimate.
- Set a budget. ...
- Change where you shop. ...
- Space apart hauls. ...
- Buy staples & protein in bulk or on sale. ...
- Have an ingredient household. ...
- Buy store brand. ...
- Create a list. ...
- Meal prep.
- Invest at least 10% of your income. The stock market didn't perform well in 2022. ...
- Build a six-month emergency fund, minimum. ...
- Pay your credit card bill in full. ...
- Save for big expenses in advance. ...
- Spend on what really matters to you. ...
- Keep it simple.
The 50/30/20 Rule can be a good budgeting method for some, but whether the system is right for you will be determined by your unique monthly expenses. Depending on your income and where you live, earmarking 50% of your income toward your needs may not be enough.
That's certainly a nice amount of money. In fact, a recent study by Northwestern Mutual found that the average American has $89,300 saved for retirement. In our example, investing $50 a month over 40 years leaves you with about three times that amount.
You should now understand that not only is saving $500 a month good for your savings account, but it builds a healthy emergency fund while it also allows you to create a financially secure plan of retirement contributions. Saving $500 a month isn't easy, but with dedication and some hard work, it's achievable!
Is saving $400 a month good?
In fact, if you sock away $400 a month over a 43-year period, and your invested savings generate an average annual 10.5% return, then you'll end up with $3.3 million. And that should be enough money to enjoy retirement to the fullest.
Key Takeaways. The rule states that you should spend up to 50% of your after-tax income on needs and obligations that you must-have or must-do. The remaining half should be split up between 20% savings and debt repayment and 30% to everything else that you might want.
How much does the average person spend a day? The average person spends about $164 per day, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This figure includes spending on housing, food, transportation, entertainment, clothing, healthcare, and other goods and services.
Average grocery bill for 1 person
If you're a single adult, depending on your age and sex (the USDA estimates are higher for men and lower for both women and men 71 and older), look to spend between $229 and $419 each month on groceries.
Households headed by someone 35 to 64 years old account for the largest share of the population—53 percent— and an even larger share of overall spending— 63 percent.
So I set out to at least get a ballpark idea for how much discretionary income the average American household gets. If you're looking for the simplest answer possible, the answer is this: $20,748. In other words, the average household has about $1,729 left over after paying the bills each month.
Your Target = 1000 times your monthly Expenses
A simple calculation tells us that when a person accumulates around 400-500 times of their monthly expenses, they have enough to last for another 30 yrs. This means that if you have monthly expenses of Rs 1 lacs per month, then 4-5 crores is a reasonable corpus for you.
The '1 per cent spending' rule is simple: When something you want to purchase exceeds 1 per cent of your annual income, wait a day before buying it. The cap will limit your spending in a day, and the 24-hour waiting period will take the thrill out of impulse buying, finance experts evaluate.
- At the beginning of the month, make a plan for how you will spend your money that month. Write what you think you will earn and spend.
- Write down what you spend. ...
- At the end of the month, see if you spent what you planned.
- Use the information to help you plan the next month's budget.
What is the Rule of 69? The Rule of 69 is used to estimate the amount of time it will take for an investment to double, assuming continuously compounded interest. The calculation is to divide 69 by the rate of return for an investment and then add 0.35 to the result.
What is the rule of 42?
The so-called Rule of 42 is one example of a philosophy that focuses on a large distribution of holdings, calling for a portfolio to include at least 42 choices while owning only a small amount of most of those choices.
The formula for the Rule of 144 is, 144 divided by the interest rate equal to the number of years it will take to quadruple your money. For instance: If you invest Rs 1,00,000 with a 12% annual expected return, then the time by which it will gain four times is 144/12 = 12 years.
Assuming long-term market returns stay more or less the same, the Rule of 72 tells us that you should be able to double your money every 7.2 years. So, after 7.2 years have passed, you'll have $200,000; after 14.4 years, $400,000; after 21.6 years, $800,000; and after 28.8 years, $1.6 million.
For example, if you put $10,000 into a savings account with a 4% annual yield, compounded daily, you'd earn $408 in interest the first year, $425 the second year, an extra $442 the third year and so on. After 10 years of compounding, you would have earned a total of $4,918 in interest.
The Rule of 72 is a calculation that estimates the number of years it takes to double your money at a specified rate of return. If, for example, your account earns 4 percent, divide 72 by 4 to get the number of years it will take for your money to double. In this case, 18 years.
Simply stated the “Rule of Ten” or “one to ten” is that the discrimination (resolution) of the measuring instrument should divide the tolerance of the characteristic to be measured into ten parts. In other words, the gage or measuring instrument should be 10 times as accurate as the characteristic to be measured.
18 minutes a day. That's all it takes to be better then 95% of the world in any discipline (100 Hour Rule). For example, if you practice the piano for 18 minutes a day for a year…. you'll basically be better then 95% of the world at the piano.
The rule of 100 states that if you spend 100 hours a year, which is 18 minutes a day - in any discipline, you'll be better than 95% of the world, in that discipline.
A new money rule: 70-20-10
That's why we really like the idea of a 70-20-10 rule for your money. Applying around 70% of your take-home pay to needs, letting around 20% go to wants, and aiming to save only 10% are simply more realistic goals to shoot for right now.
On average, you should get by comfortably on the following daily budgets for spending money: Low budget: US$90-120 per person. Mid-range budget: US$250-300 per person. Luxury budget: US$800 or more per person.
What is the 50 20 30 budget rule?
Key Takeaways. The rule states that you should spend up to 50% of your after-tax income on needs and obligations that you must-have or must-do. The remaining half should be split up between 20% savings and debt repayment and 30% to everything else that you might want.
If the 50/30/20 budget was once considered the golden standard of budgeting, it's not anymore. But there are budgeting methods out there that can help you reach your financial goals. Here are some expert-recommended alternatives to the 50/30/20.
Some experts suggest the magic number is 10% of your monthly income, after taxes. I think the right amount should be somewhere in the range of 5-10% per month. Under this fun money umbrella are trips to the bar, the movies, weekend road trips, spa days, etc.
One of the most common types of percentage-based budgets is the 50/30/20 rule. The idea is to divide your income into three categories, spending 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings. Learn more about the 50/30/20 budget rule and if it's right for you.
How much does the average person spend a day? The average person spends about $164 per day, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This figure includes spending on housing, food, transportation, entertainment, clothing, healthcare, and other goods and services.
That number will be different for everyone, depending on your circumstances and values, but science can give us some sense of how much money might be "enough." Research shows that up to a certain threshold (studies consistently put it at about $75,000 dollars a year, give or take a bit depending on cost of living) ...
American households, on average, have $41,600 in savings, according to data last collected by the Federal Reserve in 2019. The median balance for American households is $5,300, according to the same data.
Remember that, according to the 50/30/20 budgeting strategy, you should put about 20% of your paycheck in savings, though you may want to save more depending on your goals.
A common rule is to budget for at least 70% of your pre-retirement income during retirement. This assumes some of your expenses will disappear in retirement and 70% to 90% will be enough to cover essentials. Remember, that's a general guideline, and your needs may vary.
Bottom Line. Living on $1,000 per month is a challenge. From the high costs of housing, transportation and food, plus trying to keep your bills to a minimum, it would be difficult for anyone living alone to make this work. But with some creativity, roommates and strategy, you might be able to pull it off.
How many Americans have $100000 in savings?
14% of Americans Have $100,000 Saved for Retirement
Most Americans are not saving enough for retirement. According to the survey, only 14% of Americans have $100,000 or more saved in their retirement accounts. In fact, about 78% of Americans have $50,000 or less saved for retirement.
You can only make do with a $500 budget when you practice healthy money spending habits in your daily life. This includes minimizing your expenses in all aspects of life, be it going grocery shopping or paying for entertainment nights and essential utility bills.