How Do Americans Spend Their Money?

Our federal government does an American Consumer Expenditure Survey every year. These surveys are quit complex given the diverse characteristics of an American family. It also is quite amazing that spending behaviors are very similar whether the family is a couple, a couple with children, or a single parent household.  

Here are the results of the survey for 2007. For no special reason, I chose the category "married couple" with joint spending of $64,105. Generally if your spending was half of $64,105, then the average person spending $32,053 would spend half of what is listed below. 

You can get the source data at:

ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/special.requests/ce/standard/2007/cucomp.txt

You can't read this information without asking yourself how you compare. Enjoy.

 

America's Personal Spending for 2007

(Based on a Households spending of $64,105) 

Item                              Cost        % of Total Spending

Food.                                  $7,900      12.3% 
Food at home
Cereals and bakery products
Cereals and cereal products.           $183         0.3%
Bakery products.                       $414         0.6%
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs.
Beef                                   $277         0.4%
Pork                                   $190         0.3%
Other meats.                           $131         0.2%
Poultry.                               $182         0.3%
Fish and seafood                       $152         0.2%
Eggs                                   $53          0.1%
Dairy products.
Fresh milk and cream                   $199         0.3%
Other dairy products                   $312         0.5%
Fruits and vegetables
Fresh fruits                           $265         0.4%
Fresh vegetables                       $253         0.4%
Processed fruits                       $142         0.2%
Processed vegetables                   $120         0.2%
Other food at home.
Sugar and other sweets                 $160         0.2%
Fats and oils.                         $120         0.2% 
Miscellaneous foods.                   $827         1.3%
Nonalcoholic beverages                 $418         0.7%
Food prepared by consumer
unit on out-of-town trips              $62          0.1%
Food away from home.                   $3,440       5.4%
Alcoholic beverages                    $506         0.8%
Housing                                $20,922     32.6%
Shelter. 
Owned dwellings
Mortgage interest and charges.         $5,491       8.6%
Property taxes                         $2,348       3.7%
Maintenance, repairs,
insurance, other expenses.             $1,511       2.4%
Rented dwellings.                      $1,657       2.6%
Other lodging                          $1,029       1.6%           

Utilities, fuels, and public services. $5584        8.7%
Natural gas                            $588         0.9%
Electricity                            $1,597       2.5%
Fuel oil and other fuels.              $184         0.3%
Telephone services.                    $1,318       2.1%
Water and other public services        $546         0.9%
Household operations                   $4654        7.3%
Personal services                      $614         1.0%
Other household expenses.              $737         1.1%
Housekeeping supplies.
Laundry and cleaning supplies          $177         0.3%
Other household products.              $501         0.8% 
Postage and stationery.                $192         0.3%
Household furnishings and equipment.
Household textiles.                    $178         0.3%
Furniture                              $622         1.0%
Floor coverings                        $65          0.1%
Major appliances.                      $319         0.5% 
Small appliances, &
miscellaneous housewares.              $128         0.2% 
Miscellaneous household equipment      $1,121       1.7%
Apparel and services.                  $2,369       3.7%
Men, 16 and over.                      $424         0.7%
Boys, 2 to 15                          $118         0.2% 
Women and girls.
Women, 16 and over                     $776         1.2% 
Girls, 2 to 15.                        $168         0.3%
Children under 2                       $130         0.2%
Footwear                               $414         0.6%  
Other apparel products and services.   $339         0.5%
Transportation.                        $11,601     18.1%
Vehicle purchases (net outlay)
Cars and trucks, new.                  $2,255       3.5%
Cars and trucks, used                  $2,022       3.2%
Other vehicles.                        $158         0.2% 
Gasoline and motor oil                 $3,109       4.8%
Other vehicle expenses
Vehicle finance charges                $424         0.7%
Maintenance and repairs                $939         1.5%
Vehicle insurance                      $1,311       2.0%
Vehicle rental, leases,
licenses, and other charges            $658         1.0%
Public transportation.                 $725         1.1%
Healthcare.                            $3,870       6.0%
Health insurance                       $2,074       3.2%
Medical services                       $992         1.5%
Drugs.                                 $639         1.0%
Medical supplies                       $165         0.3%
Entertainment                          $3,577       5.6%
Fees and admissions.                   $958         1.5%
Audio and visual equipment
and services.                          $1,207       1.9%
Pets, toys, hobbies, and
playground equipment.                  $731         1.1%
Other entertainment supplies,
equipment, and services                $681         1.1%
Personal care products & services      $741         1.2%
Reading                                $147         0.2%
Education                              $1,250       1.9%
Tobacco products & smoking supply      $324         0.5%
Miscellaneous                          $979         1.5%
Cash contributions.                    $2,466       3.8%
Personal insurance and pensions        $7453       11.6%
Life and other personal insurance.     $465         0.7%
Pensions and Social Security           $6,988      10.9%