FL-150 item 13, line by line
Published October 27, 2026
Item 13 of California's Income and Expense Declaration is "Average monthly expenses". It is the longest part of the form and the one most people work out from their bank and card statements. This guide goes through every line in the form's own words (FL-150, revised September 1, 2024), with the kinds of statement transactions that usually belong to each. It is general information, not legal advice: where a line needs a judgment, the decision is yours, and a lawyer or your court's self-help center can help.
The lines
| Line | The form's label | Examples from a statement |
|---|---|---|
| a(1) | Rent or mortgage | Rent or mortgage payment |
| a(1)(a), (b) | If mortgage: average principal, average interest | The split shown on the lender's statement |
| a(2) | Real property taxes | County tax payments |
| a(3) | Homeowner's or renter's insurance (if not included above) | Insurer payments |
| a(4) | Maintenance and repair | Hardware store, plumber |
| b | Health-care costs not paid by insurance | Pharmacy, copays, dentist |
| c | Child care | Daycare, after-school program |
| d | Groceries and household supplies | Supermarket |
| e | Eating out | Restaurants, takeout |
| f | Utilities (gas, electric, water, trash) | Utility company payments |
| g | Telephone, cell phone, and e-mail | Phone carrier |
| h | Laundry and cleaning | Laundromat, dry cleaner |
| i | Clothes | Clothing stores |
| j | Education | Tuition, school fees, books |
| k | Entertainment, gifts, and vacation | Tickets, hotels, gifts |
| l | Auto expenses and transportation (insurance, gas, repairs, bus, etc.) | Gas stations, auto insurer, transit |
| m | Insurance (life, accident, etc.; do not include auto, home, or health insurance) | Life insurance premium |
| n | Savings and investments | Regular deposits to savings or investments |
| o | Charitable contributions | Donations |
| p | Monthly payments listed in item 14 (itemize below in 14 and insert total here) | Loan and installment payments |
| q | Other (specify) | Anything that fits no line above |
| r | TOTAL EXPENSES (a–q) (do not add in the amounts in a(1)(a) and (b)) | The sum of the lines above |
| s | Amount of expenses paid by others | See below |
Each figure is a monthly average. For how to get from a year of statements to one number per line, see FL-150 monthly averages from bank statements.
The total, and what not to add
Line r is the total of lines a through q, with one instruction: "do not add in the amounts in a(1)(a) and (b)". Those two amounts sit under a(1) as a breakdown of a mortgage payment into principal and interest. The payment itself is already in a(1), so the total leaves out the breakdown. If you rent, a(1)(a) and (b) stay blank.
Line s: expenses paid by others
Line s asks for the "Amount of expenses paid by others". Item 12, just above, lists the people who live with you and asks whether each one "Pays some of the household expenses?" Bills that someone else pays often never appear on your statements, or they appear as a deposit from that person followed by the bill. Which amounts go on line s is your decision; the form gives the line and no further instruction.
The three checkboxes
Item 13's heading has three boxes: "Estimated expenses", "Actual expenses" and "Proposed needs". Statements record what was actually spent. Choosing which box describes your figures is up to you. If your expenses are about to change, for example after a move, the difference between what you spent and what you expect to spend is a question to take to a lawyer or the self-help center.
Item 14 and line 13p
Item 14 is "Installment payments and debts not listed above", with columns for who it is paid to, what it is for, the amount, the balance and the date of the last payment. Line 13p carries the total of the monthly payments you list there.
Credit cards need care here. If a card has a balance, the payment may belong in item 14, while the purchases on the card are expenses in other item 13 lines. Counting both the purchases and the payment counts the same money twice. See credit card payments versus purchases.
Financial Affidavit Numbers sorts your statement transactions into these item 13 lines for you to confirm, flags transfers, card payments, refunds and bills paid by others for your decision, and gives the monthly average for each line with the transactions behind it. You copy the figures onto the FL-150 yourself; it does not fill in any court form.
Common questions
What goes in FL-150 item 13?
Your average monthly expenses, line by line: home costs in a(1) to a(4), then health care, child care, groceries, eating out, utilities, phone, laundry, clothes, education, entertainment, auto and transportation, other insurance, savings, charity, item 14 payments and other, with the total on line r and amounts paid by others on line s.
What does 'do not add in the amounts in a(1)(a) and (b)' mean on the FL-150?
Lines a(1)(a) and (b) break a mortgage payment into average principal and average interest. The payment is already counted in a(1), so the total on line r leaves those two breakdown amounts out.
Which box do I check on FL-150 item 13: estimated, actual or proposed needs?
The form gives the three boxes and no further instruction on the page. Statements show what you actually spent. The choice is yours; if you are unsure which describes your figures, ask a lawyer or your court's self-help center.
Where do car expenses go on the FL-150?
Line 13l reads 'Auto expenses and transportation (insurance, gas, repairs, bus, etc.)'. Loan payments are a separate question: item 14 lists installment payments and debts not listed above, and line 13p carries their total. Where yours go is your decision.
Turn your bank and card statements into monthly figures by form line →More guides: FL-150 monthly averages from bank statements · How many bank statements for the FL-150 · FL-150 last month vs average monthly · FL-150 vs FL-142 · When the FL-150 is filed or served · Florida short form vs long form · Florida: weekly and biweekly to monthly · Florida financial affidavit, section by section · Florida financial affidavit deadline · Credit card payments vs purchases · Transfers between your own accounts · Irregular income on a financial affidavit · Financial affidavit tools compared · A financial affidavit in a spreadsheet