Creating a budget can be tedious, but the 1 hour you spend in making and maintaining your budget will likely save you much more than your hourly rate at your place of employment. Discipline!
The $100 challenge
Spend 1 hour and find $100 of unncessary or frivilous spending. It's there, justlook for it. Worth your time? $100 x 12 = $1,200. Not bad for 1 hour of effort.
Years ago, our grandparents & great-grandparents had an odd & disciplined technique that allowed them to survive during difficult times. Most Americans have long forgotten this discipline and become puzzled when their wallet or pocketbook 'goes dry'.
"What happened? Whom can I blame? It must be 'someone' else's fault!"
When you point the finger of blame, crook your finger. You did it.We can't control the price of oil, wheat or the value of the Euro vs the dollar. What we can control is our own personal spending habits and as with oil, treat our own money as a limited resource that must be conserved and whenever possible, saved.
"What happened? Whom can I blame? It must be 'someone' else's fault!"
When you point the finger of blame, crook your finger. You did it.We can't control the price of oil, wheat or the value of the Euro vs the dollar. What we can control is our own personal spending habits and as with oil, treat our own money as a limited resource that must be conserved and whenever possible, saved.
Data enter in the yellow (below)Green will autocalculate
Calculate new budget at the bottom
Calculate new budget at the bottom
MONTHLY BUDGET
CurrentAmt
Changeby
NewBudget
Shelter & Habitat (subtotals)
Rent/mortgage payments
Property taxes
Electricity (AC!)
Garbage, Water (lawn!)
Gas, Heating oil (thermostat hot water heater)
Telephone (how many are truly needed?)
Lawn care & tools, gadgets
Repairs/maintenance
Furniture, appliances, curtains, carpet, decoration, doo-dads
Appliances (includes replacement)
Food (subtotals)
Real Groceries
School/Work lunches (DIY)
Junk/fast food/prepared junk
Transportation (subtotals)
Insurance
Car payment
Gas + public transportation
Repairs/Maintenance
Car washes, cleaning (DIY)
Your money tree.A limited resource.
Children (subtotals)
School supplies
Toys/equivalent (phones, gadgets, video games)
Pocket money, trips, travel
Child care/support/babysitter
All insurances
Laundry, dry cleaning, supplies
Personal care (cosmetics, haircuts, shampoo, lotions, etc)
Over the counter drugs
Emergencies
Retirement
Short term goals
Long term goals
Other Basic (subtotals)
Newspaper, basic cable, internet access
Savings (subtotals)
MONTHLY BUDGET
CurrentAmt
Changeby
NewBudget
Credit Card Payments
Installment loan payments
Late payment fees + ATM fees
Miscellaneous (subtotals)
Alcohol
Books, magazines,subscriptions
CDs, tapes, DVDs, Movie rentals
Charitable contributions
Club dues, professional dues
Tobacco
Food -Going out
Food - Ordering in
Gifts/Cards
Movies/plays/concerts
Pets: Food, vet fees, insurance
Sports (fees, clothes, events, clubs, gadgets, equipment)
Snacks, junk, soda, fancy coffee,'power drinks', bottled water
Vacations
Holiday travel, hotels
Need a different mindset? Financial survival requires discipline. Keep your money in your pocket.
More Miscellaneous (subtotals)
Credit Cards/Loans (subtotals)
Total Current
Total Change
Total New Budget
CalculateYour New Budget