Monthly bills: $100 higher this year

By now, you may have heard any number of reports about the prices of many items, from the grocery store to the new car lot, expected to rise in 2013.

But now we have some specific numbers about how much more the average family will have to pay for food, health care and more this new year.

One-Two Punch

It's a one-two punch facing consumers this year: Smaller paychecks because of rising Social Security and healthcare deductions, and higher prices.

AOL Daily Finance has broken down some of the higher costs we'll all face.

     -Grocery costs, expected to rise 4 percent. That's another $40 a month for the average family.

     -Health Care premiums: Up $20 a month, once the new rates are figured out in February.

     -Computing and online access: Up $2 a month, as Internet providers raise rates again.
    
     -Cable TV, up $5 a month because of rising rates and new monthly rental fees for VCR's and modems at many providers.
    
This means you total expenses could be $70 a month higher this year, assuming gas prices remain the same, and do not exceed $4 a gallon.

Doesn't That Stink
    
And from the "doesn't that stink" file, how these higher prices are hitting the same time we will be bringing home less.

The average two-week paycheck will be $40 smaller, with the Social Security tax break expiring, and all workers now seeing 6 percent withheld from their checks for Social Security, as opposed to the 4 percent level from the last two years.

Workers opening their first January paychecks and seeing the higher withholding are saying "doesn't that stink?"

Combine that with rising prices, and many families will find their monthly budgets $100 tighter this year.

So unless you are getting a nice raise at your job (and most of us aren't), this is a good time to re evaluate your monthly budget, and realize your expenses will be higher in 2013, so you don't waste your money.

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