You have a choice in how you spend your money, so having a spending plan in place is always proactive and empowering. A spending plan, like this pie chart, is the road map you need to get to your destination—a debt-free life.

Print the spending plan pie chart   

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A new spending plan should be developed for each month, detailing your estimated monthly expenditures. It should be completed 15 days before the month starts. By following this timeline, if you have a shortfall—more money going out than coming in—you will have time to cut expenses or generate additional income.

To free up as much money as possible for debt repayment, create a bare-minimum spending plan using Glinda Bridgforth's spending plan worksheet. This exercise will show you the minimum amount of money you need to get by during a given month.

Here's what to do using Glinda Bridgforth's spending plan worksheet:

1. Take a look at your calendar and note any special events that may cost money.
2. Complete your spending plan by making the best estimate of your upcoming bills and other needs for the month. Tweak the payments in all categories to determine the minimum amounts that can be spent without creating a sense of deprivation.
3. Don't forget to include an amount for your savings cushion so you have a resource available for emergencies.
4. Calculate your cash flow. What is the amount left over after you subtract the total expenses from the net income you will have for the month?
5. Include the "Murphy's law factor," which means anything that can go wrong will. Add an extra 10 percent to the spending plan once it's done. That figure is realistically what you're going to spend if something goes wrong (like car problems, plumbing, falling and getting hurt, etc.)
6. Apply remaining cash to your debts.

Print Glinda Bridgforth's worksheet!   

Requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.

After you fill out your worksheet, go on to Part 2 of the Monthly Spending Plan and create a spending calendar.