Budget Worksheet – Version 4.00

All Data Entry cells show up in red.

The Budget Worksheet is designed to assist you in planning your monthly spending.

Begin at the top by indicating the number of paychecks you and your spouse receive each year. If you get paid every two weeks put 26, if you get paid twice monthly put 24 in the cell, etc. After that, enter your total pay before they take anything out for taxes or any other withholding. Next, you will list all of the things that are withheld from your paycheck. The calculator should then indicate, below that, your take home pay. As you complete this data entry for your paycheck(s), you will notice that the calculator totals for you your combined monthly and annual pay.

In the bottom section of the worksheet you will enter all of your monthly expenses. The Calculator then indicates for you how that number breaks down into a weekly and an annual number. It also indicates the percentage that each category is of your total pay. The bottom section keeps a running total of the expenses you enter at the top of the expense column. If the expenses you enter ever totals more than your take home pay you will see a warning message at the top of this section saying "Exceeds your take home pay." If this occurs you need to reduce some of your monthly expense entries.

In the upper right hand corner of the calculator you can indicate the number of months of cash reserve you desire to have. The calculator then multiplies your take home pay by the number of months.