Fixed vs. variable expenses
In a family budget there are two kinds of expenses. Fixed expenses stay about the same each month, like a mortgage payment or property taxes. Variable expenses change from month to month, like utilities, transportation, food, and entertainment. Variable spending is where small habits quietly add up, and it is where this calculator can help.
How the guilt calculator works
Add an item (a coffee, cigarettes, a beer, a night out), then enter what it costs, how many you have per day, week, or month, and how many you would be willing to give up. The calculator shows the yearly cost of the habit and the yearly savings from cutting back, and you can add as many items as you like to see the total.
For example, two $4 coffees a day works out to $2,920 a year. Give up just one a day and you would save $1,460. Not bad.
This is not about giving up the things you enjoy. It is about seeing how small, regular spending adds up over a year, so you can cut back on what you will miss least and keep what you love most.