Is Atlanta affordable? I know many people who want to move here and have wondered about its cost of living. I’ve been living in Atlanta all of my life, and in today’s blog post, I’ll share my budget for the month of August as a 39-year-old. This way, you can see firsthand how much it costs someone like me, who lives a pretty simple life. I’ll also share some tips on how to create and stick to a budget so that way when you move to Atlanta, you are fully prepared.
So, let’s get right into it.
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This post is all about Atlanta cost of living
My Budget
I like to budget by categories. As a beginner budgeter, I’ve used cash envelopes to put cash in so that I could keep each category separate with its own amount. This allows me to see how much money I’m spending in each category and what I could adjust for the next month. Now, that I’m more experience, I use a cashless spending method, separate checking and savings accounts. The categories that I budget for are:
- Savings
- Home
- Transportation
- Food
- Subscriptions
- Debt
- Everything else
Savings
I’m a big believer in saving money. Whether it’s for an emergency fund, down payment on a house, or saving for the future. I have a few different savings goals, including retirement, investing, and a personal savings account. I also have a separate account for fun/entertainment spending for things like clothing and sneakers. My savings includes:
- Retirement: $296.43
- Investing: $321.03
- Personal savings: $750
Toal monthly savings: $1,367.46
Home
My home expenses include rent, life insurance, phone bill, electricity, and aftercare for my son. This allows me to see how much it is costing me to live in these 2 bedroom/ 2 bath apartments in Atlanta.
- Rent: $1,462
- Life insurance: $11.50
- Phone bill: $202
- Electricity: $220
- Aftercare$380
Total monthly home budget: $2,275.50
Transportation
I only budget for gas in my transportation category. I’m added to someone else’s insurance, so I no longer have to worry about that expense. I also have two cars which I typically only drive one car during the week. I purchased this other car because my main car kept having car issues and I know one day it’s going to give out on me. Plus, the old car is over 10 years old so I’ve gotten my monies worth.
I budget $50 a week for a gas. I usually go the gas station every Sunday to fill up my tank. There’s four Sunday’s this month.
- Gas: $200
Total monthly transportation budget: $200
Food
I budget for both groceries and eating out in my food category. I’m trying to cook more at home to save money, but I still eat out occasionally.
- Groceries: $225
- Eating out: $75
Total monthly food budget: $300
Subscriptions
I have a few different subscriptions, including Apple, Canva, and Shopify. I’m always looking for ways to save money on subscriptions, so I’m always willing to cancel subscriptions that I don’t use.
- Apple: $11.98
- Canva: $12.95
- Shopify: $57
- Stan Store: $29
- Tubebuddy: $6
- VidIQ: $10
Total monthly subscriptions budget: $126.93
Debt
I’m currently working on paying off my credit card debt and student loan debt. I also have a collection account that I’m making minimum payments on.
- Credit card debt: $127.99
- Student loan debt: $0
- Collection account: $115
Total monthly debt budget: $242.99
Everything else
My “everything else” category is for things that don’t fit into any of my other categories. This month, I’m budgeting for sneakers.
- Sneakers: $310
Total monthly sneakers budget: $310
click here to download the budget notebook
Tips for Creating and Sticking to a Budget
- Track your spending. This will help you see where your money is going.
- Set realistic goals. Don’t try to save too much money at once.
- Make a budget that you can stick to. If your budget is too restrictive, you’re more likely to give up.
- Be flexible. Your budget doesn’t have to be set in stone. You can adjust it as needed.
- Celebrate your successes. When you reach a savings goal, reward yourself.
I hope this blog post has helped you learn more about how to create and stick to a budget. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.
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