Budgeting is the process of planning how your income should be distributed to pay your expenses. If your income is less than your expenses, the budgeting process also involves assigning priorities to the expenses to determine which ones can be eliminated or reduced. A good budget also takes into consideration the payment of state and federal taxes, which sometimes can be reduced by taking advantage of government incentives.
Organize your bills and tax forms
The best way to start the budgeting process is to collect your receipts and bills for the last
several months and start organizing them into the expense categories listed above. Make new
categories to suit your individual needs. You also need to have your tax forms for the previous
year. The tax forms contain a summary of your wages and the amount of tax that you paid.
Add up your monthly expenses and your monthly income to start your budget planning.
You can use the worksheet at the bottom of this page as a guide.
Assign priorities to your expenses
Your expenses for housing, utilities, food, medicines, and clothing are indispensable. Insurance and
taxes are unavoidable. Expenses for restaurants, entertainment, and social activities
are discretionary. If you have long-term goals, such as traveling, you need to set
money aside just as you would for any other expenses.
Always think before buying something. Is it necessary? Is it a one-time expense, or will there be recurring expenses? When you get a dog for companionship, for example, in addition to the food and veterinary bills, you may have kennel charges for when you go on a business trip, or you may need to buy new rugs or furniture to replace those spoiled by the dog. You will also have less time to earn money because you will be busy walking the dog. Think about the consequences of your purchases. Many lottery winners buy big houses only to lose them later because they did not take into consideration the yearly expenditures of taxes and the cost of maintaining the gardens, the swimming pool, heating and cooling the house, and maid services required to keep a large house in good order. Learn to live within your means.
Pay down debt
One of the best ways of saving money is by paying outstanding credit card debt. Most credit
cards charge from 18 to 21 percent per year. You lose about twenty dollars out of every hundred
dollars when you carry a balance on a credit card. Accelerate your payment schedule to pay off
the credit card debt as soon as possible. Once your balance is zero, you can still use your
credit card, but pay the new balance in full when you receive the bill to avoid monthly interest charges.
Reduce your expenses
Where do you get the money to pay down debt? You eliminate unnecessary or discretionary expenses.
If you use your imagination, you can come up with many ideas to reduce expenses
and increase your sources of income. Here are some suggestions:
Start saving
Whether you are planning for retirement or a nice vacation, you need to learn how to save your money,
but be patient. It takes time for your savings to grow.
Lower your federal and state taxes
You can save for retirement and lower your taxes at the same time by taking advantage of
tax-deferred programs such as the 401k savings plans available from employers.
Some businesses encourage their employees to use these plans by matching a
portion of the contributions. This is free money. Take it!
If you are self-employed, you can set up a SEP retirement account to save a portion of your income. Any money placed in the 401k or SEP retirement accounts is excluded from your income. Your taxes are lower because they are calculated on the income minus your retirement account contributions. If you are in the 25% tax bracket and you save $100 Dollars in a tax-deferred account, you will not pay taxes on the $100 Dollars; you will avoid $25 Dollars in taxes this year. The taxes on the saved money are paid at the time that you withdraw it, after age 55-1/2.
Budgeting Worksheet | MONTHLY BUDGET AMOUNT |
INCOME: | |
Wages and Bonuses | |
Interest Income | |
Investment Income | |
Miscellaneous Income | |
Income Subtotal | |
INCOME TAXES WITHHELD: | |
Federal Income Tax | |
State and Local Income Tax | |
Social Security/Medicare Tax | |
Income Taxes Subtotal | |
Spendable Income | |
EXPENSES: | |
HOME: | |
Mortgage or Rent | |
Homeowners/Renters Insurance | |
Property Taxes | |
Home Repairs/Maintenance/HOA Dues | |
Home Improvements | |
UTILITIES: | |
Electricity | |
Water and Sewer | |
Natural Gas or Oil | |
Telephone (Land Line, Cell) | |
FOOD: | |
Groceries | |
Eating Out, Lunches, Snacks | |
FAMILY OBLIGATIONS: | |
Child Support | |
Alimony | |
Day Care, Babysitting | |
HEALTH AND MEDICAL: | |
Insurance (medical,dental,vision) | |
Unreimbursed Medical Expenses, Copays | |
Fitness (Yoga,Massage,Gym) | |
TRANSPORTATION: | |
Car Payments | |
Gasoline/Oil | |
Auto Repairs/Maintenance/Fees | |
Auto Insurance | |
Other Transportation (tolls, bus, subway, taxis) | |
DEBT PAYMENTS: | |
Credit Cards | |
Student Loans | |
Other Loans | |
ENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION: | |
Cable TV/Videos/Movies | |
Computer Expense | |
Hobbies | |
Subscriptions and Dues | |
Vacations | |
PETS: | |
Food | |
Grooming, Boarding, Vet | |
CLOTHING: | |
INVESTMENTS AND SAVINGS: | |
401(K)or IRA | |
Stocks/Bonds/Mutual Funds | |
College Fund | |
Savings | |
Emergency Fund | |
MISCELLANEOUS: | |
Toiletries, Household Products | |
Gifts/Donations | |
Grooming (Hair, Make-up, Other) | |
Miscellaneous Expense | |
Total Investments and Expenses | |
Spendable income minus total expenses and investments |