Budgeting Worksheet Template

MONEY &

BUDGETING

WHY   I S   B UDGETING   I MPORTANT?  

You   c an’t   f ind   t he   r ight   p lace   t o   l ive   u ntil   y ou   k now   h ow   m uch   y ou   a re   a ble   t o   s pend.   T he   b udget   s preadsheet   i s   a  

good   r eference.   K eep   i n   m ind   a ll   o f   t he   e xtra   e xpenses   t hat   g o   a long   w ith   p aying   r ent   l ike   u tilities,   t ransportation,   a nd  

insurance.  

 

WHEN   Y OU   T OUR   A N   A PARTMENT/HOUSE,   C ONSIDER   T HESE   B UDGET   Q UESTIONS:  

1.   W hat   i s   t he   m onthly   r ent?  

2.   W hat’s   i ncluded   i n   t he   r ent...utilities,   c able,   i nternet?  

3.   W hat’s   n ot   i ncluded   a nd   w hat   i s   t he   a verage   m onthly   c ost   f or   u tilities,   c able,   i nternet?  

4.   W ant   t o   h ave   a   p et?   F actor   i n   t he   d eposit   a nd   m onthly   c ost   f or   f ood,   m edical,   a nd   g rooming   c are.  

5.   D on’t   f orget   R enter’s   I nsurance.   B efore   y ou   s ign   y our   l ease,   h elp   p rotect   y our   b elongings.  

6.   D on’t   f orget   y ou   n eed   f uel   f or   t hat   c ar   o r   s cooter   t o   g et   t o   a nd   f rom   c lass.   O r   a re   y ou   g oing   t o   u se   t he   b us?  

7.   D on’t   f orget   y ou   n eed   f uel   t oo.   H ow   m uch   d o   y ou   s pend   m onthly   o n   g roceries   o r   a   m eal   p lan?  

8.   H ave   s ome   f un!   D on’t   s pend   s o   m uch   o n   r ent   t hat   y ou   c an’t   g o   t o   d inner   w ith   y our   f riends   o r   m aybe   s ee   a   m ovie.  

9.   H ow   m uch   d o   y ou   s pend   m onthly   o r   y early   o n   c lothing,   s hoes,   a nd   a ccessories?  

10.   I t’s   r eally   g ood   t o   s ave   s ome   m oney   e very   m onth   t o   c over   t hose   u nexpected   e mergencies.   H ow   m uch   m oney   c an  

you   s ave   e very   m onth?   E ven   $ 20   a   m onth   i s   a   g reat   a mount   t o   s ave...every   l ittle   b it   c ounts.  

 

LIVE   W ITHIN   Y OUR   M EANS!  

Using   a   c redit   c ard   m onthly   t o   p ay   y our   e lectric   b ill   i s   n ot   d ebt   m anagement;   i t   i s   s imply   b uilding   d ebt.   S pend   o nly   t he  

money   y ou   e arn   e ach   m onth   o n   t he   e xpenses   y ou   n eed.   U se   t he   b udget   s heet   b efore   m oving   i n,   w hile   y ou   l ive   t here,  

and   a fter   y ou   f ind   t he   r ight   p lace   t o   l ive.   M ake   c opies   o f   t he   b udget   s heet   a nd   u se   i t   e very   m onth   w hen   y ou   p ay   y our  

bills   t o   k eep   t rack   o f   y our   s pending.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANONYM  

 

 

PLAN   A HEAD!

     

When   y ou   p lan   t o   l ive   o ff-­‐campus,   d epending   o n   w here   y ou   w ant  

to   l ive,   p lan   t o   s ave   a t   l east   $ 35-­‐$65   f or   a n   a pplication   f ee,   $ 200-­‐

$1,200   f or   a   s ecurity   d eposit,   c heck   t he   s tipulations   f or   i t   b eing  

refundable   o r   n ot,   $ 50   t o   g et   t he   c able   t urned   o n/hooked   u p,   $ 50  

to   g et   t he   l ights   t urned   o n,   a nd   a t   l east   $ 300   t o   m ove   y our   t hings  

(U-­‐Haul   t ruck   r ental   a nd   p acking   s upplies).   Y ou   m ay   s pend   a s  

much   a s   $ 1000.00,   o r   l ess,   i f   f riends   h elp   y ou   m ove.   O f   c ourse,  

many   o f   t hese   e xpenses   c an   b e   w aived   d epending   o n   w here   y ou  

live.   A nd,   d epending   o n   h ow   m any   r oommates   y ou   h ave,   i f   a ny,  

these   e xpenses   c an   b e   d ivided   u p.  

 

Adapted from Gator Guide to Off Campus

Life, University of Florida, pages 4-5.

 

Biola University, Commuter Life -

studentlife.biola.edu/OCHS

- Off-Campus Housing Services