How to make a budget

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2005
How to make a budget
4
Tue, 12-09-2008 - 3:24pm

I am so confused on this.


I have never had to deal with this and now I need to. What do I do first? Are there online tools for this?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-17-2007
Tue, 12-09-2008 - 4:47pm

Hi Sandra


Go to the dollar store and buy yourself two small notebooks for a 1.00 a piece.


One you keep in the house Write down the amount of your rent, when your gas and lights, land line, cell phone internet bill comes in write down those amounts in the book, cable bill and food. Everything that goes with a house cleaning supplies everything. That you spend in a month.


The other one you put in your purse. If you are at work and buy a coke out of a machine write it down in that one. go out to lunch write that down too. stop at Wendy's on the way home write that down get a hair cut buy some new clothes. You get the picture If it has to do with anything that is personal that goes in that book. Do this for a month.


Now after a month. Sit down and add up all the things. Household bills Personal expenses, clothing If you bought anything new that month, entertainment, movie rentals, going out with friends under each catagory I have listed below. This will tell you right off the bat where you money is being spent and if you are under or over the percentage you should be.


On a big sheet of paper write down your income for a month Get 4 paychecks a month write down the dates and how much. Every two week twice a month what ever it is . On the top of the sheet.


Here are the percentages of your income that things should fall into.


Rent 25%


House hold expenses 10-15%


Food 15-20% if you have a family.


Bill repayment 10-15% target is 10% or less


Auto 15-20% that is auto payment, a saving account for repairs and tags once a year, gas and auto insurance.


You have around 5% left if you are working on the high side. That goes for clothing, entertainment, hair cuts you know all the little extras.


Saving I always work 1% off something to go into saving a month.


Some things will be over these percentages and some things should be less.


Then put down the dates you get paid. With a pencil

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2005
Tue, 12-09-2008 - 4:56pm

can i just pay someone to do this?


snowflake??

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-07-2005
Tue, 12-09-2008 - 5:06pm
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-17-2007
Tue, 12-09-2008 - 6:31pm

Can I pay someone to do this for me?


Sweet heart your posting made my day


And made me laugh


Thanks for that


Mary Ann


Unless you pay someone to follow you around for a month or so


No pretty much you have to do this on your own.