Managing a Budget

Budget Management Topics:

Topic 1: why budget Topic 2: what's in the budget     Sheet: link to budgeting worksheet       email this page to a friend   print this loan summary booklet

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• Keeping Track:
  There is only so much money from month-to-month. Question: where does it all go?
  
  A sizeable portion pays for housing, food and basic living. Another portion pays for transportation. But where does the rest go?
  
  Budgeting allows you to track your monthly expenditures so that you can plan key savings strategies for important short- and long-term goals.
  
  
• Limits Your Spending:
  Having a financial budget may find that about 5-10% of your total spending may be for purchases that are not needed.
  
  Think about it. What could you do with that extra 5-10%? Perhaps your future plans include buying your first home, going back to school, saving for your child's college, paying down debt or simply setting aside cash for a special trip.
  
  A budget will identify expenses that can be cut so that you can set goals on making important long-term savings.
  
  
• Discipline Yourself:
  Your goal is to rid yourself of instant gratification (the symptom of credit card use). The budget sets guidelines on what and when items can be purchased.
  
  
• Setting Goals:
  Budgeting supports your financial goals, which may include:
  
  — saving for your first home
  — paying down debt
  — preparing to go back to school
  — planning for retirement
  
  Good budgeting skills add these goals into the budget.
  
  
• Prepare for Emergencies:
  Question: if you were to lose your job, how long could you survive on available funds?
  
  If you had to stretch those funds, what reductions can you make in your existing monthly expenses?
  
  That is the key benefit of a budget. It helps prepare for emergencies with established expense reduction plans.

• Income:
  The budget starts with how much money you bring home on a monthly basis. Income sources include:
  
  — employment income
  — alimony received
  — investment income
  — social security
  — support payments
  — savings
  
  How much income should be allocated for the budget?
  
  — your goal should be around 90-98% or less
  — the remaining 2-10% of your income gets allocated for savings
  
  (note: budget items are expressed in monthly terms)
  
  link to our budget worksheet to estimate income
  
  
  
• Housing Expenses:
  Housing expenses will likely be your largest expense item, especially if you own a home. Housing expenses include:
  
  — your mortgage payment with escrow (taxes, insurance)
  — monthly rental payment if you do not own
  — utility services (electric, gas, oil, water, sewage, garbage, etc.)
  — telephone, internet, cable
  — house repairs and maintenance
  
  How much for the budget?
  
  — about 32-35% of income if you own; 15-20% if you rent
  
  (note: budget percentages can vary by region and situation)
  
  link to our budget worksheet to estimate housing expenses
  
  
  
• Transportation:
  Transportation expenses include:
  
  — auto loan payments
  — auto insurance
  — fuel expenses
  — maintenance and repairs
  — taxes, licensing
  — parking
  — public transportation
  
  How much for the budget?
  
  — about 9-12% of income
  
  (note: budget percentages can vary by region and situation)
  
  link to our budget worksheet to estimate transportation costs
  
  
  
• Family or Personal Care:
  Family care expenses include:
  
  — family care insurance (health, disability, life, dental, other care)
  — doctor, dental, eye care, hospital visits
  — veterinarian expenses
  — prescriptions and over-the-counter medications
  — child care
  — elder care
  — health clubs
  
  How much for the budget?
  
  — about 8-19% of income; 15-25% for full child/elder care services
  
  (note: budget percentages can vary by region and situation)
  
  link to our budget worksheet to estimate personal care expenses
  
  
  
• Living Expenses:
  Home living expenses include:
  
  — food
  — home living supplies
  — school and work lunches
  — snacks, vendors
  — clothing
  — education-related expenses
  — home services (cleaning, gardening)
  — postage and paper supplies
  
  How much for the budget?
  
  — about 27-35% of income
  
  (note: budget percentages can vary by region and situation)
  
  link to our budget worksheet to estimate your living expenses
  
  
  
• Family Recreation:
  Recreation expenses include:
  
  — dining out
  — movies out and rentals
  — outside entertainment
  — cigarettes, beer, wine, liquor
  — birthdays and holidays
  — vacation travel
  — weekend, day trips
  — gambling, lottery tickets
  
  How much for the budget?
  
  — about 4-6% of income
  
  (note: budget percentages can vary by region and situation)
  
  link to our budget worksheet to estimate recreation expenses
  
  
  
• Obligations:
  Obligation expenses include:
  
  — credit card payments
  — student loan payments
  — home equity line or loan payments
  — personal loan payments
  — alimony, child support payments
  — judgment or liens
  — other assessed taxes
  — charitable donations
  
  How much for the budget?
  
  — about 18-28% of income (your goal is to reduce this percentage)
  
  (note: budget percentages can vary by region and situation)
  
  link to our budget worksheet to estimate your obligations
  
  
  
• Savings:
  Savings include:
  
  — 401K contributions
  — IRA contributions
  — investments
  — savings (personal, college, retirement)
  
  How much for the budget?
  
  — about 2-10% of income (goal is to increase this percentage)
  
  (note: budget percentages can vary by region and situation)
  
  link to our budget worksheet to estimate your saving needs