From Financial Planning at About.com
(http://financialplan.about.com)
| CATEGORY | BUDGET AMOUNT | ACTUAL AMOUNT | DIFFERENCE |
| 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) | |||
| Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses | |||
| Fitness (Yoga,Massage,Gym) | |||
| TRANSPORTATION: | |||
| Car Payments | |||
| Gasoline/Oil | |||
| Auto Repairs/Maintenance/Fees | |||
| Auto Insurance | |||
| Other (tolls, bus, subway, taxi) | |||
| 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 | |||
| Surplus/Shortage (Spendable income minus expenses & investments) |
For expenses incurred more or less often than monthly, convert the payment to a monthly amount when calculating the monthly budget. For instance, convert auto expense that's billed every six months to a monthly amount by dividing the six-month premium by six. This money should be kept separate from your other money so it's available when the bill becomes due.