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#MONTHLY BUDGETING AND LONG TERM SAVINGS PLANNER HOW TO#
If you’re unsure of how to initially structure your budget in a way that leads to savings, some common budgeting systems might come in handy. To help you do just that, use these techniques to help allocate your budget toward the right mixture of expenses. Once you have more finalized income and expense numbers to work with, it’s time to work toward a sustainable plan that not only accounts for your spending but makes sure you’re doing that spending in the right places and on the right things for you. Monthly Budgeting Techniques and Goal-SettingĮven if your expenses are lower than your income, you’ll likely want to make some adjustments, too. If your budgeted expenses are greater than your income, then you’ll need to identify areas where you can cut spending. Make Adjustments: Subtract your expenses from your income and see whether you are in the positive or negative.For categories of spending that change over time, examine recent statements from your bank or credit card provider to estimate how much you tend to spend in these areas each month.
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As you’re tallying these expenses, make note of which ones might fluctuate from month to month, as well as which ones are fixed.
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Tally and Understand Your Monthly Expenses: Write down all of your expected monthly expenses, including your mortgage or rent, groceries, utilities, transportation, debts, and entertainment.Also be sure to include other sources of income like Social Security payments. If your income varies from month to month, use an average based on the last year or start with your low-earning month of that year as a baseline. Calculate Your Monthly Income: Start with your monthly after-tax income or “take-home” pay as your spending limit for each month.Follow these simple steps to get the ball rolling: To craft your monthly budget, start with the budgeting basics.
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