Annual Spending Review - 2019

Well, it's that time of year again.  Here's my regular review showing broadly where all the money was spent in 2019.   I'm posting this a few days earlier than usual, because we're off on our travels again very soon ...

car purchase costs included ....

click on the graphic for a larger image ...


As usual, the columns are ranked highest-to-lowest from left-to-right, based on the 2019 spending, and include the equivalent 2018 and 2017 percentage spends alongside, for comparison.

Here's another plot containing exactly the same data, but this time with the higher value 'Savings & Investment', 'Car Expenses' and 'Holidays and Travel' categories hidden, so the lower value columns can be seen more clearly :-

car purchase costs included, highest three categories hidden ...

A few notes :-

• 'Car Expenses' in the figures above includes the cost of purchasing our 'new' vehicle earlier in the year.  I was in two minds about including this in the charts, because it raises the total spend and therefore distorts the percentages of the other categories, making a direct comparison with previous years more difficult.   Therefore, in the additional charts shown below these bullet points, I've excluded these costs and the 'Car Expenses' category drops two places to become the fourth highest spend.

• 'Holidays & Travel' was the highest spending category again.  The 2019 figure includes much of the costs of our upcoming winter breaks in early 2020, for which the travel and accommodation have already been paid.  In actual cash terms, our total spend in this category has been remarkably consistent over the past three years, although it's a lower percentage this year because the overall spend is greater.

• In the 'Savings & Investments' category, I haven't yet deployed much of the ISA allowance for 2019-20 so some of this will again be carried over into next year's review, and this year's car purchase diverted funds which would otherwise have been saved, and so this category represents <15% of the income this year, a far cry from the heady pre-2015 years when I was consistently saving more than 50% of income*.  

• 'Groceries & Alcohol' doesn't reflect the total household spending, only my own.  My wife usually picks up the tab at the supermarkets when we do our major food shops every other week or so.  I pay all the other household bills except for the broadband. 

• As described in previous reviews, 'Household Bills' fluctuates each year mainly due to the timing of our purchases of heating oil.  

• I've only played 'Golf' a few times this year, mainly due to other commitments in the spring & summer plus a prolonged spell of very wet weather in the autumn.  However, I hope to get out on the course much more often next year.

• The 'Gambling' category is very high this year - I haven't had one decent win on the horses all year ...

• My spending in 'Restaurants & Bars' has been very consistent over the last few years, with only slight increases each year presumably due to inflation.  But we've spent absolutely zero on 'Takeaway Food' this year, in stark contrast to the UK average of 34 takeaways totalling £451 each year, according to a KPMG study as summarised here in a BBC article.   Mind you, the results and conclusions of a lot of these sort of studies seem to be complete nonsense ...

• 'Miscellaneous' includes the likes of gifts, entertainment, PAYG mobile top-ups, admission fees on days out and anything else that doesn't quite seem to fit in one of the other categories.

• In the 'Tools' category, I've been on a bit of a spending spree this year, including a new platform ladder and cordless extendable trimmer to keep on top of the high garden hedges, and a few other cordless power tools.  I've also bought another trolley jack, diagnostic hardware / software and several new handtools for car maintenance.

• In actual cash terms, and again including the purchase cost of the car, the total annual 'spend' was 19% higher than in 2018.

car purchase costs excluded ...

car purchase costs excluded, highest two categories hidden ...

* To be honest, as I get older the motivation to save huge amounts is fast declining.  However, we've still some way to go to reach the targets of our 'Grand Plan', so I need to steel myself for another big push ...