Make a Budget

Here's a sample worksheet you can use to make your budget.

MAKING A BUDGET – EXAMPLE WORKSHEET
BUDGET	ACTUAL	DIFFERENCE	CATEGORY
			ESTIMATED INCOME:
			Wages and Bonuses
			Interest Income
			Investment Income
			Other Income
			Estimated Total Income

			ESTIMATED EXPENSES:
			Essentials
			Mortgage / Rent Payment
			Car Payments
			Transportation Costs (bus, train, gas for car, etc.)
			Car Maintenance Costs
			Groceries
			Health & Medical (copays, prescriptions, etc.)
			Telephone
			Utilities (Gas, Electric, Water)
			Healthcare
			Home Maintenance Costs
			Insurance Payments
			Child Support / Alimony Payments
			Education Costs
			Other Payments

			Discretionary
			Internet, Cable TV, Satellite, Tivo Service
			Cell Phone, Pager
			Entertainment (movies, dining out, etc.)
			Vacation
			Gifts
			Other
			Estimated Expense Total
			You may have all or only some of the expenses listed above. If you have additional "essential" items that are not listed above, add them up and put them under "Other Payment". For those items that are paid once per year, divide the total cost by 12.

			INCOME minus EXPENSES equals Surplus or Shortage
Because changes happen frequently, review your budget periodically.
Keep on top of things so you always know where you stand.