Get Organized with a Budget

GET ORGANIZED budgeting

Although there are many women who are fully

aware and cognizant of their financial situations,

even in this day and age, sometimes women leave

the finances up to the men in the household.

This is particularly unwise and unpractical

in the long run. And men aren't off the hook

if they aren't spending wisely and insisting

on disclosure and equity for both people in

a marriage or partnership.

For double income households, it's just as

important for both partners to know and agree

on fixed and discretionary expenses. For

single parents, it's critical to know where

your money goes and to be specific in what

your needs are.

Here is a page you can print out of a sample

that you can use to get organized in regard

to budgeting, planning and spending your

income so you know where you stand in terms

of your finances.

You can adjust the categories so that they

suit your situation. If you make an overall

yearly plan, you'll be in tune with your

overall financial picture.

Then if you would find it useful, you can make

a monthly version of your overview and

you can keep a daily log of spending--if you

can't figure out where all the money goes,

you can analyze your daily expenditures.

Month__________

Year___________

____________________________________________________________

INCOME Estimated plan /Actual spending/Difference____________________________________________________________

Salary (after tax) (take home pay) __________

Investment Income __________

Other income __________ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

TOTAL INCOME ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

estimated budget / actual spending /difference

EXPENSES________________________________________________

FIXED costs

Housing: -mortgage/rent -maintenance fees -property taxes

Utilities: -heating -electric

VARIABLE and FLEXIBLE costs

Services -phone -cell phone -water -garbage pick-up -cable -internet

Housing repairs

Groceries

Transportation -car -car lease -gas -transit -maintenance

Insurance -medical -house -auto -life -disability

Child Care -school fees -school supplies -after school activities -miscellaneous

Personal -clothes, shoes -gifts -miscellaneous -gym memberships -other

Entertainment -movies -eating out -sports participation events/attendance

Petty Cash miscellaneous -pet care -gardenting

Holiday Fund

Long term savings

Loans

Donations

Other ______________________________________________

TOTAL EXPENSES ____________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________

DAILY LOG: Itemize expenses