Budget Worksheet
Suze Orman
Most of us have a fuzzy idea of how much we owe every month (the minimum on this credit card and that one...and the one over there) and a general idea of what comes in: paychecks, bonuses, interest earnings. We contribute to retirement plans but don't know the amount of exact investments. This January, instead of making a New Year's resolution, make time for a New Year's reckoning. Use the following worksheet to figure out what you have, what you owe and how it all adds up.

Monthly Expenses
Enter the amount of each monthly expense. Exclude any special expenses (i.e., birthday presents, vacations, clothing) from this section.

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Special Expenses
Now, enter the special expenses that you expect to incur throughout the year—birthday presents, anniversary dinners, summer camp, movie dates, vacations, new clothes, Christmas gifts, contributions to your IRA, everything. Factor in, too, any major replacements or repairs that you anticipate this year—a new washing machine, for example.

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Annual and Monthly Income
Now, calculate your after-tax income, factoring all sources for the year (salary, bonus, interest earnings, investment returns). Enter annual figures into the fields below, and the monthly figure will be calculated.

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