| * On average women earn about 74 cents to a | | | | change.* Pick a certain bill to stockpile weekly |
| man's dollar.* Women pay $1.00 or $2.00 more than | | | | (example: stockpile a $10.00 bill every week)* Set |
| men to have a white, cotton shirt dry cleaned.* In | | | | aside a dollar a day* If a bill or category in your |
| general, women are charged higher prices for used | | | | budgeted expenses is less than what you have |
| cars than men.Knowing how to play the budgeting | | | | anticipated for in any particular month, stockpile the |
| game is key to winning it! Neither age nor budgeting | | | | balance.Whatever you do just DO IT and if you |
| experience matter, what does matter is that you | | | | aren't already then start this week. Don't dip into it! It |
| keep learning how to get the most for your | | | | is for the utmost emergency situation ONLY! Be |
| money.As women we need to be smart spenders, | | | | committed to putting it aside each and every week |
| learned investors, and successful at saving. The fact | | | | no matter what.Home: |
| is 85 out of every 100 U.S. women, 32 and older, will | | | | Include mortgage, rent, property taxes, and |
| find themselves on their own financially at some | | | | homeowners insurance here.Transportation: |
| point.* 6 of the 85 will never get married.* 33 out of | | | | Car payments, gasoline, auto insurance, repairs, |
| the 85 will see divorce.* 46 will outlive their | | | | maintenance, license fees, parking fees, mass |
| mates.We must know more about keeping and | | | | transportation costs are all included in this |
| controlling our money. Taking the time to learn more | | | | category.Groceries: |
| now, may mean having more money later.Start by | | | | This will vary depending on the number of people in |
| taking a good hard look at your current spending | | | | your family. Figure about 5% per each adult monthly. |
| habits and work to establish a balanced budget. Good | | | | To see exactly how much you are spending on |
| money management is spending what you have | | | | groceries, keep track of your receipts for one month. |
| wisely.Putting a budget together doesn't have to be | | | | You can cut costs by utilizing grocery store ads and |
| a dreaded thing. You make the rules because it's your | | | | sales, creating a weekly menu plan and sticking to it |
| money! If you want a new wardrobe, budget for it. | | | | (base your grocery list on your menu plan), use |
| Want to take a vacation? Simply budget for it. You | | | | coupons (most stores now offer double coupon |
| can have the things you want so long as you budget | | | | value on certain days or up to a certain amount). |
| for them. Remember budgeting is simply a | | | | Leave the kids and husband home when doing the |
| systematic way to control what you spend, save | | | | grocery shopping. Men impulse buy far more than |
| money, and get yourself out of debt!Here is a simple | | | | women do and the kids will beg and plead for every |
| budget to get you going. It is set up to budget | | | | new cereal or sugar concoction they see. Stick to |
| monthly expenses as a percentage of what your | | | | your pre-written grocery list. Also cutting down or |
| gross monthly income is.My Budget:________% | | | | out on restaurant dining, and eating home more will |
| IRA/401K/403B/SEP | | | | save you a bundle (another way to stockpile |
| ________% Federal Taxes | | | | money).Entertainment: |
| ________% Taxes (Other) | | | | Make budget cuts here if you go over budget in |
| 0-10% Insurance | | | | other areas. Try not to go over budget, don't |
| 25% Home | | | | depend on this to fall back on monthly.Clothing: |
| 5-10% Additional Savings | | | | Shop sales, and try to stay away from the "latest |
| 5% or more Groceries (5% per person per month) | | | | fad" shopping. Shop the thrift stores too. Purchase |
| 5% Clothing | | | | winter clothes at the beginning of the spring season |
| 10% Utilities | | | | when stores are trying to clear out their |
| 10% Transportation | | | | inventories.Household: |
| 0-5% Entertainment | | | | Repair work, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, |
| 0-5% Household goods, appliances, repairs | | | | light bulbs (all upkeep items). When you are under |
| 0-5% Miscellaneous | | | | budget in this category don't spend the excess, |
| _______% Liquid Emergency FundRemember, this | | | | instead save it for unexpected household |
| is just a guideline. Work with your family and budget, | | | | repairs.Miscellaneous Items: |
| make any adjustments you need to. If you find your | | | | Anything that can't be easily allocated anywhere |
| figures exceed the above guidelines by more than | | | | else. Examples are beauty/hair care, newspapers, |
| 10%, that could possibly mean you are spending too | | | | magazines, gift items, etc. You may need to add |
| much. Customize your budget to fit your needs.IRA | | | | categories for child care expenses, school tuition, |
| 401K/403B/SEP: | | | | loans, charity/donations, and savings for big purchase |
| Contribute to some sort of retirement plan. Money | | | | items.Don't forget to include expenses that don't |
| in the plan will not be taxed while it earns dividends, | | | | occur on a monthly basis such as insurance (which |
| interest, or capital gains. If you join via your | | | | may be quarterly). Divide the total payment by |
| employer, money is deducted from your paycheck | | | | twelve and put that amount away monthly.Sticking |
| before you can spend it! Some employers match a | | | | to your budget.It is possible that your budget may |
| percentage of what you put into your plan. Yes, you | | | | not run as smooth as you hope at first, but DON'T |
| can withdraw early if needed, there will be a financial | | | | GIVE UP. You can revise and fine tune YOUR budget. |
| penalty applied and you will have to pay tax on your | | | | Here are a few tips:For the first three months go on |
| withdrawal.Insurance: | | | | a trial and error basis.Revise your budget when it isn't |
| Life, disability, medical, dental. Insurance is designed | | | | working and start over fresh next month.Have a |
| to protect you against loss of life, income or health. | | | | monthly family meeting about the budget and discuss |
| Don't use insurance for your investment needs | | | | solutions to any budget problems.Research budgeting |
| because most likely you will end up paying far too | | | | via your local library or the internet.Remember, in |
| much for the insurance. Keep them separate | | | | order for your budget to work-you must work it. |
| (insurance and investments) to get the best | | | | You must devote time to it and monitor/control it. |
| return.Savings: | | | | Whether you prefer budgeting by hand or on your |
| Be sure to pay YOURSELF first! Save as much as | | | | computer budgeting should not consume lots of time. |
| you can. 5-10% is the guideline. Save what you can | | | | Stick to a monthly monitoring plan and your budget |
| save. Have a disciplined routine in place. Save at least | | | | will be a success.********** |
| 6 months worth of living expense. Some recommend | | | | Lisa Fraley owns and operates Home Works Natural |
| putting this into an interest bearing checking, savings, | | | | Skin And Body Care. |
| or money-market account.That is fine if that is what | | | | Natural skin care and body care products for natural |
| you want to do. It is MY opinion that we should also | | | | you. Home Works also offers affiliate, wholesale, and |
| stockpile a liquid emergency fund. Something we can | | | | drop ship programs.She is also an independent |
| put our hands on right away without having to wait | | | | representative for Global Domains International. Global |
| for any banking system to issue it to us. It can be | | | | Domains International offers website domains for life |
| kept hidden in our homes, I suggest investing in a | | | | with a residual income to match. A free trial is |
| lockbox (fire/waterproof box), or a small safe. | | | | available and you can begin earning during the free |
| Stockpile whatever money you can.Ways to | | | | trial period.Find out how to build the team of your |
| stockpile money:* Round off your budget items to | | | | dreams by taking her free e-course. |
| the next highest dollar amount and stockpile the | | | | |