Budget Workbook. $ Live within your income. $ Realize personal more effectively. $ Develop economic competence and confidence goals

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Agnes Hampton
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1 Budget Wrkbk This budget wrkbk was cmpiled t help yu find a simple and practical guide fr managing yur mney. Mney management abilities can have a great effect n the degree f satisfactin we gain frm life. N ne is brn with the ability t manage mney effectively. It is a skill that can be learned and develped with practice. The verall key t mney management is that a plan is required t think things thrugh befre spending. On-the-spt purchases ften cause mney t disappear quickly. A financial plan can help yu: $ Live within yur incme $ Realize persnal mre effectively $ Develp ecnmic cmpetence and cnfidence gals $ Maintain a gd credit histry $ Spend wisely A gd plan is a guide nt a detailed accunting f every penny. A plan is based n each individual. It shuld be based upn yur ideals and principles, and the way yu want t live. Our persnal gals grw ut f values and dictate ur financial gals. Fr example, ne persn may live in mdest circumstances in rder t pay fr their educatin, while anther may cnsider the extra cst fr amenities, such as a dishwasher r washer/dryer, an expense well wrth the savings in time and energy. In ther wrds, ne persn s extravagance may be anther s necessity.

2 Once yu have identified yur gals, financial planning and saving is much easier. Try t put the mst imprtant gals first, since nt all yur gals will be reachable at nce. Yu shuld include bth shrt and lng term planning. If yu have a small incme and/r large debts, yu may be unable t d mre than take care f immediate necessities. Yu may find it unrealistic t even think f lng-term gals. Achieve yur Financial Gals by Planning: Shrt-term Gals Achieved By Estimated Cst Lng-term Gals Achieved By Estimated Cst Check Yur Financial Situatin: Befre yu can budget wisely, yu need t knw hw much mney yu will have during the planning perid. Be realistic and think n facts f life that culd happen. Plan yur budget fr twelve mnths. Fr mst students, budget planning may be easier t d n a semester basis. If yur incme fluctuates frm ne mnth t the next, yu may want t set up a three-mnth trial plan. After yu see hw it wrks, yu can expand it t cver a lnger perid. Yu als need t estimate yur expenses. If yu are new t budgeting, yur might want t keep track f yur expenses fr a cuple f mnths t find ut where yur mney ges. This trial perid will allw yu t assess whether t cntinue yur present spending patterns r t make changes. Be realistic in revising the estimated amunts fr expenses. Reslve t cut ut shpping sprees, bargains yu d nt need, and veruse f credit. Plan yur large expenses s that they are spaced ver several mnths. Use the frms n the fllwing page t figure yur ttal incme and ttal expenses. The best way t have mney available fr majr expenses and future gals is t set aside mney regularly befre yu spend yur incme. By earmarking yur mney and planning yur expenditures, every pay perid will give yu greater flexibility in managing yur mney. When yu start budgeting, yu will want t set aside a designated amunt t cver any emergencies that may arise. Once yu have decided n the amunt needed, enter it n the planning sheet n the next page. Keeping yur savings separate frm yur ther funds may help yu frm spending impulsively. If pssible, put them in a savings accunt r in gvernment bnds where they will earn interest.

3 Remember yur future gals: yu have already assigned a dllar cst t each ne f yur gals; and the date yu hpe t achieve them. Translate the cst int an amunt that must be saved each mnth, and enter it n the wrksheet. Identify Yur Spending Habits In develping yur spending strategy, it may help t identify yur spending habits. Place a check beside the statements that apply t yu. Yes NO Q s and Facts abut yur expending Persnality I ften prepare a list but find myself adding items at the stre. I depend n shpping t lift my spirits r fulfill and emtinal need. Salespeple ften sway me. I am extravagant n gift expenditures. I frequently run ut f mney befre the end f the mnth. I read labels carefully befre I make a purchase. I use the phne directry and advertising t cmparative shp. I always figure the cst f delivery, installatin, etc., int item price when cmparing. I always send the enclsed warranty t the manufacturer. I keep written recrd f all my expenditures. I can be entertained withut spending mney. If yur scre is: 5 r mre YES Respnsible shpper 1-2 Yes and sme NO Reassess yur shpping habits 0 Yes and lts f NO Careless shpper Are yu wrried by yur scre act nw and start yur Budget Spreadsheet $$$$$$..!!

4 INCOME Budget Spreadsheet Date r Mnth: Take-hme pay Lans/Grants/Schlarships Savings/Checking Parental Cntributin Interest/Dividends Scial Services Other EXPENSES Rent Tuitin Bks/supplies Utilities Grceries Entertainment Car payment Insurance (car, rent) Gasline Lans Credit cards Clthing Cable TV Husehld supplies Laundry Miscellaneus TOTAL EXPENSES TOTAL INCOME TOTAL INCOME Minus TOTAL EXPENSES REMAINING BALANCE

5 Budgeting and adjusting yur needs t yur spending A budget is smething yu keep wrking and rewrking until it fits. D nt expect t have a perfect budget the first time yu set ne up. With each budget plan, yu can expect imprvement. As circumstances change, yu will need t readjust yur budget arund yur new gals, needs, and wants. Things yu what t think abut when yu set yur budget: Did yu prvide fr all yur needs? Did yu have truble sticking t yur plan? Did yu need t be better disciplined and manage next time? Budgeting is nt a ne-time exercise. Keep in mind that the tips, charts, and wrksheet yu have used here will need t be rewrked. Yur gals, bth lng-term and immediate, need t be reassessed n a regular basis t help budget mre accurately and attain yur gals. T prepare yur budget, first carefully evaluate yur expenditures, including yur present living needs. T establish a list f pririties, rank the items belw in imprtance frm 1 (mst imprtant) t 10 (least imprtant) fr the present and next year. Clthing gifts savings Cntributins health care jb Educatin husing summer/schl Graduatin vacatin Entertainment transprtatin Fd lan payments Other Nw cmpare thse items as ranked with the amunt yu are spending n them. Are yu spending a disprprtinately large amunt f yur incme n an item that is nt very imprtant t yu? If yur incme and expenses d nt balance and shw a negative balance, yu have sme chices. Here yu ll find sme suggestins abut hw t imprve yur budget: 1. INCREASE YOUR INCOME: Obtain a part-time jb, financial aid, r a lan. 2. DECREASE YOUR EXPENSES: Yu can try t cut fixed expenses by seeking less expensive husing and/r sharing husing with thers. Depending n yur pririties, yu may find it easier t cut variable expenses rather than fixed expenses. Cuts can ften be made t entertainment, credit-card purchases, r even fd. 3. CHANGE SCHEDULE FOR PAYMENT OF BILLS: There may be a better way t divide payments r spread them ver the cming mnths. Check with the cmpany t see if yu can adjust yur payment schedule. 4. TAKE LONGER TO REPAY OBLIGATIONS: If yu cannt pay yur bills n schedule, cntact yur creditrs immediately t see what arrangements can be made. 5. WATCH YOUR DAILY SPENDING: Carry nly as much mney as yu need each day. Extra cash in yur pcket is ften a temptatin t spend.

6 Here are sme suggestins t help change sme f the careless shppers habits and help yu stretch yur dllars! Shp at mre than ne stre and increase the number f chices available t yu (find the best deal). Be aware that sme sales are nt always bargains. Determine what yu really need. Be aware f budget leaks fr built-in features yu d nt really need. Make purchases in seasn r sale times; extend yur buying pwer. Cnsider the difference between cash and credit prices. When purchasing items, remember the life expectancy f the item accrding t its use. Be sure t save, register, and utilize, yur warranties. RESOURCES Financial advice is available thrugh the fllwing resurces: Financial Aid Office Cnsumer Credit Cunseling Service 103 Administrative Annex 126 West Harvard, Suite 5 Clrad State University Frt Cllins, Clrad x305 Off-Campus Student Services Resurces fr Adult Learners Reference: Mney Management: Yur Financial Plan, Husehld Internatinal, Illinis, 1979

What Happens To My Benefits If I Get a Bunch of Money? TANF Here is what happens if you are on the TANF program when you get lump-sum income:

What Happens To My Benefits If I Get a Bunch of Money? TANF Here is what happens if you are on the TANF program when you get lump-sum income: 126 Sewall Street Augusta, Maine 04330-6822 TTY/Vice: (207) 626-7058 Fax: (207) 621-8148 www.mejp.rg What Happens T My Benefits If I Get a Bunch f Mney? Each prgram, (TANF, SSI, MaineCare, etc.) has its