The Weekender Budget Workbook potx

[...]... to print this entire workbook If you do, then I suggest you three-hole punch the pages and place them all in a nice three-ring binder The first page makes a handy cover Gathering everything in a binder brings the workbook into the physical world, making it easier to fill in the forms At the very least, you will want to print the five worksheets so you can fill them out Making the calculations and hand-writing... loan** TOTAL = 3 Subtract the debts from the assets – the number you get is your Net Worth *A note about the house If you have a mortgage, you must include the market value of the house as an asset if you are going to include the balance of your mortgage in your liabilities **Same with a car loan If you include the cars value as an asset, you must include the car loan as a debt Otherwise things won’t balance... looking at The house and the mortgage are more or less “fixed” and aren’t easily manipulated during the monthly budget process You can control other areas such as eating out or entertainment more easily on a month-by-month basis The mortgage is such a large number and only speaks for one aspect of your situation This one number can skew the rest of the numbers and make it difficult to judge all the variables... enough stuff to get the job done 4 Cutting the fat is the answer It will feel good, and it could even be fun Letting go is often the quickest way to freedom Controlling the spending is often the quickest and sometimes the only part we can control It’s the only way to instantly create a bigger separation between your income and your spending When it comes to financial stability, the amount of money... your income for the month and send every single dollar to one of the categories listed below There you have it, a budget, a plan Stick to the plan A budget is a waste of time if you don’t stick to it 2 Actual: This is what actually happened during the month Print off the bank statement and go line by line again, putting every purchase into a category Yes, you must do this every month It is the most important... two… Worksheet #4: WANTS List The leftovers, the extras the fat With your spending from last month fresh on your mind and the list of things you truly need on the previous page, what is left over? On the worksheet below: 1 List all of the things that you spent money on last month that did not make it onto your “Needs” list —expenses listed on WS #1 but not on WS #3 2 Include the amount you usually spend... – spending = what’s left over Understanding the spending part is where the answers are 2 You are in charge of all three numbers Take charge 3 We don’t need as many things in our life to survive and be happy as we thought The truth is that these very things are actually bringing the whole house down, not holding it together The pursuit of happiness through the endless accumulation of material possessions... why and make adjustments Your Net Worth is the big picture This one number represents your financial situation in the simplest terms Re-figure your Net Worth without the mortgage (debt) and the value of the house (asset) to get a different perspective Of course the debt on your house is real and should be given due attention But looking at the situation without the house can make more sense It will give... minimalism a try A couple of great guys, The Minimalists, have some valuable e-books that attack consumerism at the very core of the problem Exploring the why behind your spending habits and your material possessions is a wonderfully helpful exercise Seriously, these e-books are worth the whopping $3.99 each Check ‘em out I had the pleasure of letting Ryan and Joshua sleep on the floor of my apartment one cold... redirecting that money A budget is done before the month starts You are, on paper, telling yourself and your money what to do and where to go On Worksheet #6, there are three columns: 1 Budgeted: This is the plan that you (and your spouse/partner/accountability buddy/etc) have defined You plan out these numbers before the month starts This should be a balance between what is realistic and the goals that you . h1" alt="" The Weekender Budget Workbook Get a jump start on your budget over the weekend! By Derek Olsen of Beatnik Budget Don’t let your money slip through your fingers. www.beatnikbudget.com. Should Listen to Me Learn from our experience What is The Weekender Budget Workbook all about? How The Weekender helps you succeed The Weekender Checklist Saturday Step 1: Basic Assessment Worksheet. control over the amount of money you make, controlling the amount you spend is the only way to improve your finances. The numbers will take care of themselves—either the money is there or it