Building a Family Budget Spreadsheet – Making Money Work
The key to having a family budget spreadsheet is to create one that can be updated at any time. There is no such thing as a perfect budget, because every family will have different needs. If you can make sure that your children’s needs and your own are taken into account, you will be on the right track to setting up an effective and livable budget.
When you think about it, each of us has a set amount of money to spend on our children before we need to worry about our financial situation again. Therefore, it is important that each of your children is given a certain level of allowance, based on the number of children in your family, as well as your age and income.
How do you determine your child’s needs and wants? Is he or she interested in pursuing a career, doing arts and crafts, or becoming a doctor?
Are you worried about the cost of medical bills, and how that could affect your ability to earn money for future college expenses? Have you thought about putting a few hundred dollars away each month, to help with a home improvement project, like updating the kitchen, replacing a boiler, or installing a new ceiling fan?
A budget for your child’s education should include all of the necessary costs. They could include tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Many states require that children must be covered by a plan, so that you can decide on a cost-effective payment option for yourself.
Another expense to be considered in a family budget is medical expenses. You may want to pay medical costs directly to your child’s doctor, to avoid paying out of pocket. You may want to pay with a savings account or a personal loan, so that you do not incur any interest or fees.
What are your child’s activities? Can you set aside funds for extra personal belongings, like sports equipment, furniture, tools, books, music, or computer games?
Stop worrying if you don’t make enough money at first. Remember, your first priority is always your child, but you can and will learn to stretch your finances if you put forth the effort.
Make a plan. Do you want to save a little money each month, or do you want to spend a lot? The decision is up to you.
Each of your children is different, and their lives are full of learning and teaching moments. You will always need to be flexible in order to adapt to whatever your kids are doing.
Remember, a family budget spreadsheet is simply a way to help you plan how to allocate your money. It is a great tool to help you become financially aware. READ ALSO : free expenses spreadsheet
