All too often, headlines report these numbers nationally - lumping all these households together. What Does an Average "Family" Look Like?īefore we get to the average example family budget, let's look at exactly what the average family looks like. As an example, childcare costs are included in Household Operations. If you have any questions about where a specific expense is categorized, you can find it in the Consumer Expenditure glossary here. All of the terms I've used in the tables below also come directly from the survey. The information is collected via a quarterly Interview Survey and a weekly Diary Survey.Īll of the data is reported as the average for a given household type. It collects information from a sampling of the nation's households and families on their buying habits, income, and household characteristics. The Consumer Expenditure Survey is conducted by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. What are the Average Monthly Expenses for a Family of 4?Īs it turns out, the US government collects and publishes data to help us answer exactly this question. Get the latest 2020 data for the Average Family Budget HERE! Photo Credit: TBM Photography and as you'll see, the average single-parent household actually falls further into debt each month, outspending their monthly income. Use it as a guide, not a rule - as the average family in the US also can't afford a $400 unexpected expense either. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey released in September 2019 reporting 2018 dataĪs you review the information and tables, remember: this is consumer expenditure data for the median household nationwide, broken into various demographic categories. There is no one size fits all budgeting formula that works for everyone. As you dig into the data I'm about to share, I want to make a few things really clear: I frequently get asked "What are the average monthly expenses for a family of 4?" or "What does the average family spend on groceries every month?" And that is the data I went searching to find and share with all of you. When it comes to an example of a family budget, there is no one size fits all answer.
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