Create Your '09 Budget Yet?

In the last months of 2008 I overspent on my Food, Entertainment, and Misc. categories, so I'm thinking of breaking out the Misc. category a bit into activities of varying rank in terms of how much happiness I glean from them. For example, I want to create a 'Recreation' category in addition to my current 'Entertainment' one, since Entertainment for most people is clubbing and movies, two things I don't have at the top of my to-do list on the weekend (don't get me wrong, I love movies and I occasionally have a great night clubbing. I just think on the whole this is very hit-or-miss and the ingredients have to be right to get me to go). But you can't take the movie-lover out of this girl, no-uh. 

Anyway, I do spend a lot in the area of 'Recreation,' like those racing pedals I got for my road bike in November. But that's a solid investment in my opinion, since bike rides don't cost anything, even if the gear does (compare that to paying for a gym membership, ski lifts, or a round of golf). I'm also considering joining a local Masters Swim team, which would fit 'Recreation' more than 'Entertainment,' unless 'Entertainment' is just another way to say 'Having a Life.' 

Wait, maybe that's not such a bad idea. Yeah, I'll call this new category: 'Having a Life.' Why not? It's my budget. 

Now for 'Misc.' - this category got a bit fat in December because of gifts I presume. And gifts are not something to feel guilty about, since they're for other people and are fun to buy. But they're only really important one month out of the year, so I don't think I'll make a separate category. I do think 'Household' items need to be separated from 'Food,' since household items are very different and detergent and shampoo certainly stack that Safeway bill. 

So my final list, ladies and gents, is below. What're yours?

Rent 

car insurance

Cable

Internet

Utilities

Car Payment

Car Repairs

Gas/Transportation

Food

Clothes/Laundry/Dry Cleaning

Household

Medical

Having a Life

Gifts/Donations/Misc.

401k (10%)

social security

state disability

federal income tax

state income tax