Reviewed January 2007
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Editor's note
This publication's worksheetst are available in the PDF and printed versions.
Everyone wants enough money to live on. Many people feel they need more.
You can use money to help you get what you want by:
To do this, you must know:
Your money can take care of you. It cannot take care of itself. Plan to make your money take care of you.
What is important to you and your family? Each family must make its own plans. Let older children share in family planning.
This is a good time to teach older children how to:
Your plans will work better when everyone pulls together.
First, think what you want to do. This will help you decide how to use your money.
List the things you want soon and in the future. Find out what each will cost. Think how you will save for things you want later.
Things you may want or need to do soon:
Things you may want in the future:
List the things first that you want the most.
Worksheet 1
"Things you and your family want," shows how you might make your
list.
Where do you get your money? Is it from:
You may be getting money from only one place. Or maybe you get it from several.
Make a list of where you get your money. You may wish to list this weekly, twice a month, monthly, or once a year.
List what you make before anything is taken out. Money taken out would be taxes, insurance, union or other dues, social security, retirement or savings.
List money earned by all members of the family. Be sure to list money earned by children too.
Worksheet 2
Use "How much money is coming in?," to figure out how much money is
coming in
Use a chart to figure out how you are spending your money each day. (See the "How you are spending your money each day" chart.) Could you make better use of your money? A spending plan might help you.
This plan can help you:
Everyone must have some basic things like food, housing and clothing. Look at your records. See what your family spends on necessities such as these. This will give you an idea about what future costs will be.
Your records, bills, canceled checks, receipts and whatever else you can remember will also help you plan.
Now you can see why records can help you. They take the guesswork out of planning. Study the list you made (Worksheet 1, "Things you and your family want"). Will some of these things fit into your spending plan?
Move the total amounts spent for each item in Worksheet 3, "How you spend your money each day" to the last column of Worksheet 4, "Your spending plan."
Compare your spending plan with what you actually spent. How did you come out?
Do you have money left over? If so, this is fine. You and your family should be proud of yourselves. Set aside the extra money for the future.
Perhaps you overspent. Many people do. Then the whole family must take another look at the plan.
Have you overspent? Remember the important needs, such as food, a place to live and clothing. Can the costs of these be cut? How much? To cut costs, you might:
Notice other expenses on your list. What could be left out? What could be put off until later?
Could you increase the amount of money coming in? Some family members may be able to take a second job or work at home.
Now decide what changes you will make.
Keep a notebook handy. Use it to write down what you buy each day. Keep all bills, receipts and business papers together in one place.
Keep older children involved by letting them:
This will help the family understand where the money goes.
All family members old enough to spend money should watch their spending. Are dollars buying what the family wants most?
Are you spending more than you planned to? Are you spending too much on:
Do you have too many:
You can make your money help you have:
But you must:
Talk with
Attend special meetings at the
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GH3830, reviewed January 2007