How Americans Spend Their Money

Are you aware of how much you spend on various things each year? The folks at a website called How Much looked at census data to figure out where the average American family spends its money.

The average American "consumer unit" earns $78,635 in income each year, $11,394 of which goes to taxes. Then the rest goes to:

• Shelter - $11,747
• Pensions & Social Security - $6,831
• Food at Home - $4,464
• Utilities - $4,049
• Vehicle Purchases - $3,975
• Food Away from Home - $3,459
• Health Insurance - $3,405
• Entertainment - $3,226
• Other Vehicle Expenses - $2,859
• Other Housing Expenses - $2,270