12 common budget categories
A W. P. Carey economist shares strategies to budget effectively.
Isys Morrow
In this article published March 12, 2026, on WalletHub:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, housing and transportation comprise 50% of household spending. It's important for households to accurately budget for these expenses as they are often not discretionary. Food comes in next at just under 13%. It's easy to think you can make adjustments in food budgets by trading down to cheaper products or cutting out restaurant meals but be realistic.
— Cara E. McDaniel, clinical professor and assistant chair of economics
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