Understand where your cash goes and how you can keep more of it
Learn to trim spending painlessly
Discover how to set realistic financial goals ' and achieve them
Do you find yourself living from paycheck-to-paycheck? Do you wonder why you make a good living and yet have no money left at the end of the month? Do you feel helpless when you try to think about planning for your financial future? Most important, do you feel overwhelmed at the idea of coming up with a personal budgeting plan? If the answer to any or all of these questions is yes, this kit is for you. It's a step-by-step guide to help you organize your finances and stay on track financially for the rest of your life. Along with all the necessary forms and spreadsheets, it contains tips and information to help you create a workable personal budget. It simplifies the budgeting process, making it easy for you to create a solid, realistic plan. You will learn how to do the following:
Set realistic financial goals
Trim your spending painlessly
Pay down your debt methodically
Save and invest
Develop a retirement savings strategy
Make an estate plan
Make over your lifestyle for a successful and stress-free future
Start today, and budget your way to financial freedom! The future (your future!) is in your own hands. Have respect for money and what it can do for you. This book includes a Windows CD-ROM for use with your Windows-based PC. All checklists, samples, and worksheets are on the CD-ROM in MS Word or MS Excel formats, as well as Acrobat PDF. This allows you to print out as many forms as needed, or even adapt them to your personal needs! The CD also contains a a bonus Business Budget Planner and a collection of resources and further readinga information.
1 WHY BUDGET? 1Financial Budgeting 2The Stress Factor 3The Fear Factor 4Defining Your Financial Goals 72 THE BUDGET 13Tracking Spending 13Daily spending 14Weekly spending 18Yearly spending 25Tracking Income 27Calculating Your Net Worth 313 SPENDING MANAGEMENT 39Analyzing and Revising Your Spending 39Changing Your Lifestyle 47CONTENTSiii4 DEBT MANAGEMENT 51Paying Off Your Consumer and Credit Card Debts 51Paying Down Your Mortgage 54Your Credit Report 565 SAVINGS MANAGEMENT 59More to Savings than Savings Accounts 59Risk/Return 61Different Types of Investments 61Safety investments 62Income investments 62Growth investments 63Mutual funds 64Real estate investment 66The ABCs of Retirement Savings 686 FINANCIAL PLANNING STRATEGIES 73Tax Planning 73Estate Planning 747 FREEDOM TO ENJOY LIVING 79APPENDIX 1 SAVINGS CHARTS 81Savings Chart 1 82Savings Chart 2 84Savings Chart 3 86Savings Chart 4 88APPENDIX 2 TIPS ON SAVING MONEY 91GLOSSARY 101SAMPLES1 Financial Goals Worksheet 10iv Personal Budgeting Kit2 Daily Spending Worksheet 163 Weekly Spending Worksheet 204 Yearly Spending Worksheet 285 Income Worksheet 326 Net Worth Worksheet 367 Revised Spending Worksheet 42TABLE1 Mortgage Savings 54
