YOUR TURN > TRY IT
Use the following chart to begin planning your budget. Add additional rows for other expense categories that apply to you. Then find a good online budget calculator, plug in your numbers, and build your budget from there.
| Monthly Budget Worksheet | |||
| Cost Category | Fixed or Variable Expense | Expected Cost | Actual Cost |
| Rent/Mortgage | |||
| Electricity | |||
| Heat | |||
| Water | |||
| Cable/Internet | |||
| Cell phone | |||
| Transportation (bus/train fare) | |||
| Car payment | |||
| Auto insurance | |||
| Medical expenses | |||
| Food (groceries, meals at school, snacks, eating out) | |||
| Tuition | |||
| Books | |||
| Child care | |||
| Miscellaneous | |||
| Total expenses | |||
| Income | |||
| − Total expenses | |||
| = Amount of Savings | |||