Most families budget for the big things: the equipment, the visits, the help. The costs that quietly wear a household down are the repeating ones, the items bought every few weeks that never seem to fit one line. Before you set a figure, make the list of what repeats, because the total is set by small habits more than by one large purchase.
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Write the list from her actual week
Go through one full week in the house and record every item that runs out. Include gloves, wipes, pads, bags, batteries, bulbs, tissues, dish soap, and anything that needs replacing on a schedule. Add the things that get thrown out before they are used up. A list built from memory will miss half of them, so track the week as it really happens.
Find what drives the number up
Four things usually raise the monthly total. The first is frequency: an item used several times a day costs far more than one used once a week. The second is the wrong size, which means buying more than needed or throwing away packs that no longer fit her. The third is convenience, such as paying for delivery or buying single packs when a larger pack would last longer. The fourth is waste, which often comes from ordering before anyone checks what is already on the shelf.
Find what brings it down
Compare the cost of the same size, not the cost of the whole package, since a larger box is not always the better value. Ask whether a bulk order fits your storage space and whether the item expires before it is used. Keep one small shelf with a count, so the household knows what is low before it runs out. Decide who buys what, because two people buying the same item each month is a common and expensive mistake.
Set the budget from the list, not the other way round
Once the list is written and the drivers are named, put a monthly figure on each line and add them up. Leave room for the item that always runs out in the middle of the month. Review the list every few months, since her needs will change, and an item that was needed daily may later be needed weekly or not at all. If the total is more than the household can carry, that is worth raising with her care team, who can help you see which needs are truly required and which are simply habits. You can read how we approach these questions in how we write.