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RECOMMENDED
GRADE LEVELS AVERAGE TIME TO COMPLETE
EACH LESSON PLAN IS DESIGNED AND CONTINUALLY EVALUATED “BY
EDUCATORS, FOR EDUCATORS.” THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING
EDUCATORS FOR DEVELOPING COMPONENTS OF THIS LESSON PLAN.
10‐12
Anticipatory Set & Facilitation:
60 minutes
Conclusion/Assessment Options:
15‐90 minutes
Time does not include optional items.
Kim Knoche, Family Consumer Sciences Educator, Forsyth, Montana
Deani Goyette, Business Educator, Forsyth, Montana Tracey Newman, Family and Consumer Sciences
Educator, Ste. Genevieve, Missouri Kathie Beck, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator,
Holland, Michigan
NATIONAL STANDARDS LESSON PLAN OBJECTIVES
The curriculum is aligned to the following national standards: National Standards for Financial Literacy American Association of Family and Consumer
Sciences Council for Economic Education National Business Education National Jump$tart Common Core English Language Arts
Upon completion of this lesson, participants will be able to: Compare the differences between a statement of
financial position, income and expense statement, and
spending plan
Analyze why it is important to create a spending plan
Implement the process of developing a spending plan
MATERIALS
MATERIALS PROVIDED IN THIS LESSON PLAN
MATERIALS SPECIFIC TO THIS LESSON PLAN
BUT AVAILABLE AS A SEPARATE DOWNLOAD MATERIALS TO ACQUIRE SEPARATELY
DEPENDING ON OPTIONS TAUGHT
The Brown Family 2.2.5.A1 Spending Plan: Mission Home Front
2.2.5.A2 Spending Plans 2.2.5.A3 The Carson Family 2.2.5.A4 My Spending Plan 2.2.5.A5 Letter of Advice for the Brown Family
Rubric 2.2.5.B1 Spending Plans Vocabulary List
2.2.5.E1 Spending Plan Template 2.2.5.E2 Spending Plans Information Sheet
2.2.5.F1
Spending Plans Note Taking Guide 2.2.5.L1
Spending Plans Answer Key 2.2.5.C1
Spending Plan Excel Template 2.2.5.E3
Spending Plans PowerPoint Presentation 2.2.5.G1
Managing Your Money Unit Multiple Choice Test Bank and Answer Key 2.2.0.M1 & C1
Play Dough (1/4 cup per participant)
Blank paper
Markers
SPENDING PLANS Advanced Level
www.takechargetoday.arizona.edu
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RESOURCES EXTERNAL RESOURCES
External resources referenced in this lesson plan: Free Electronic Spending Plans: www.yesyoucanonline.info/Resources/Calculators
Stove Top Play Dough Recipe: www.recipe4living.com/recipes/stove_top_play_dough.htm
Free Electronic Control Systems:
o Mint: www.mint.com/
o PearBudget: https://pearbudget.com/wizard
Applications for tracking, creating, and controlling a spending plan found in the Tablet Applications for the Personal Finance Classroom Active Learning Tool 3.0.52
Envelope Budget System Labels: www.likeplayinghouse.com/2012/11/envelope‐system‐with‐printable‐envelopes.html
Consumer Jungle student‐oriented website: www.consumerjungle.org
TAKE CHARGE TODAY RESOURCES
Similar lesson plan at a different level: Diving into Spending Plans 1.2.4
Optional lesson plan resources: Vocabulary Reinforcement Activities Active Learning Tool
3.0.36
Technology Integration Options Active Learning Tool 3.0.50
Tablet Applications for the Personal Finance Classroom Active Learning Tool 3.0.52
CONTENT EDUCATOR MATERIALS PARTICIPANT READING
Materials to support educators when preparing to teach this lesson plan are available on the Take Charge Today website.
Spending Plans Information Sheet 2.2.5.F1
OPTIONAL INSTRUCTIONThis lesson is designed to be taught as a stand‐alone lesson. However, background content knowledge from the
following lesson plans is directly related to this lesson and may be helpful for participants.
Statement of Financial Position Lesson Plan 2.2.3
Income and Expense Statement Lesson Plan 2.2.4
Setting Financial Goals Lesson Plan 2.1.4
LESSON FACILITATION
PREPARE Visual indicators to help prepare the lesson
INSTRUCTInstructions to conduct the lesson facilitation
CUSTOMIZE
Potential modifications to lesson facilitation
VOCABULARY ACTIVITY
What is a Spending Plan
Approximate time: See Anticipatory Set Materials to prepare: None
1. Vocabulary reinforcement has been built into the anticipatory set, by using play
Use the quiz me cards activity from the Vocabulary Reinforcement Activities Active Learning Tool 3.0.36.
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dough to begin the spending plan development process and linking it to the term spending plan.
ANTICIPATORY SET
Where’s My Dough? Approximate time: 10 minutes Materials to prepare: Spending Plan PowerPoint Presentation 2.2.5.G1 Sheet of blank paper and a marker per participant Distribute approximately ¼ cup of play dough per participant 1. Present the Spending Plan PowerPoint Presentation 2.2.5.G1. Use the directions
on slide 2: Where’s My Dough to conduct the Where’s My Dough activity: a. Provide each participant with a sheet of blank paper and a marker. b. Ask participants to create a list of their expenses on the paper.
i. If needed, remind participants that expenses are usually divided into the following categories: taxes, savings and investing, insurance, housing, transportation, food, and other.
c. Instruct participants to estimate how much they spend on each expense and write that down as well.
d. Distribute play dough to each participant. The amount distributed does not need to be identical for each person.
e. Tell the participants that the play dough represents income. f. Remind participants that similar to real life, they have a limited amount
of income and discuss why. Sample discussion questions include: i. Do some individuals earn more than others? (represented by
the different amounts of play dough given to each participant). ii. What circumstances can provide a person with more “dough”? iii. What are ways to increase one’s income?
g. Instruct participants to divide their play dough into sections to show how much income is spent on each expense. Label these sections on the paper.
iv. Depending upon the number of expenses a participant has, they may need to divide their expenses into similar categories. For example, snacks and sports drinks can both fall under the category of “food.”
v. Discuss the type of expenditures each person has. h. Have participants write a personal financial goal on their paper. i. After the goal has been written, ask participants, “Based upon your
current spending, is it realistic to achieve your goal?” j. Explain to participants that they may need to make some trade‐offs and
change the way they spend their money to reach that goal. k. Instruct participants to make any needed adjustments to their play
dough in order to reach their goal and indicate the change on their paper.
l. Inform participants that they have started to develop a spending plan! A spending plan helps determine what changes to make to spending to reach financial goals and live within your means.
m. Throughout the remainder of the lesson they will learn about the
A recipe link is provided in the supplemental resources section to make your own play dough.
Show all or part of Everybody Loves Raymond episode titled “The Checkbook” in Season 2 Episode 16. In this episode, Raymond unsuccessfully manages the family budget and learns why it is important to have a spending plan.
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spending plan development process.
RECOMMENDED FACILITATION
Approximate time: 50 minutes Materials to prepare: Spending Plan PowerPoint Presentation 2.2.5.G1 1 The Brown Family 2.2.5.A1 per participant The Spending Plan Excel Template 2.2.5.E3 is available as an example
spreadsheet Tablet Applications for the Personal Finance Classroom Active Learning Tool
3.0.52 for reference 1. Split participants into groups of 2‐4. Participants will remain in these groups for
the remainder of the facilitation. 2. Continue the Spending Plan PowerPoint Presentation 2.2.5.G1 Part 1: What is a Spending Plan and why is it important? 3. Slide 3: What is a Spending Plan?
a. Discuss the definition of a spending plan. 4. Slide 4: Why is a Spending Plan an important part of financial planning?
a. A spending plan is a very important part of financial planning, because helps you manage your money in a positive manner. By using a spending plan you will be able increase net worth and reach goals.
b. A spending plan also helps you analyze the opportunity costs of trade‐offs to make spending decisions that make you the most happy and therefore maximize financial well‐being.
5. Slide 5: Money Management Tools a. The Spending Plan is the last of the three money management tools. b. The Statement of Financial Position and the Income and Expense
Statement may be used to determine what changes to make to financial planning and decisions. Then, the spending plan is used to actually make those changes.
c. When comparing the statement of financial position, the income and expense statement, and a spending plan, think of the differences in terms of the past, present and future.
6. Slide 6: A forward‐looking Income and Expense Statement a. A spending plan is a forward‐looking Income and Expense Statement. b. The template is very similar to an Income and Expense Statement
except the column indicates the planned amount versus the past amount. In fact, some people use the same template for both the Income and Expense Statement and the Spending Plan.
Part 2: Spending Plan Development Process 7. Slide 7: Spending Plan Development Process
a. Creating a spending plan involves five steps. The first three steps develop the spending plan and the last two steps help maintain the spending plan.
8. Slide 8: Track Current Income and Expenses a. The first step to creating a spending plan is to determine how much
Refer to the Income and Expense Statement Lesson Plan 2.2.4 to review how to track income and expenses.
Refer to the Where’s My Dough anticipatory set and remind participants that they started steps 1‐3 of the spending plan development process.
Read the student‐generated articles about spending plans on the Consumer Jungle website.
The Spending Plan Note Taking Guide 2.2.5.L1 is provided but not included as part of the recommended facilitation instructions or approximate time.
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money you earn and what you spend your money on. b. This step is very important, because it ensures that the spending plan
will be realistic. 9. Slide 9: Congratulations!
a. They have been hired as a financial advisor for John and Tia Brown. b. Pass out one The Brown Family 2.2.5.A1 to each participant.
Throughout the remainder of the PowerPoint, participants will work through each step on The Brown Family 2.2.5.A1.
c. There is certain information they need to know to act as a financial advisor for the Brown family. Discuss this information.
d. Their job as a financial advisor will be to create a spending plan for the Brown family.
10. Slide 10: The Brown Family – Step One: Track Current Income and Expenses a. Refer participants to The Brown Family 2.2.5.A1 and have them find the
section titled “Step One: Track Current Income and Expenses.” b. John and Tia kept all their receipts for the month of January to create
an Income and Expense Statement. c. Have participants work in their groups to review John and Tia’s January
Income and Expense Statement for the information for step one of the spending plan development process.
11. Slide 11: Personalize Your Spending Plan a. The most effective spending plans are those which are personalized. In
the second step of the spending plan development process, three questions need to be answered in order to personalize your spending plan.
12. Slide 12: How will you create the actual spending plan? a. The first part of personalizing a spending plan is to determine how the
actual spending plan will be created. b. The spending plan can be created in any written method that works for
them. c. Provide examples when possible.
i. The Spending Plan Excel Template 2.2.5.E3 is available as an example spreadsheet.
ii. Applications that may be used for creating a spending plan on smartphones and tablets are listed in the Tablet Applications for the Personal Finance Classroom Active Learning Tool 3.0.52 resource.
d. Ask participants to determine how they would create the actual spending plan and discuss with their group.
13. Slide 13: What is the intended time period for your spending plan? a. The next part of personalizing a spending plan includes determining the
time period. b. Ask participants to determine what time period their spending plan
would be for and discuss within their group. Stress that any time period is ok as long as it works for the individual.
c. The final part of personalizing a spending plan includes creating personal categories for income and expenses. Categories should be created from the tracking completed in step one.
14. Slide 14: The Brown Family – Step Two: Personalize Your Spending Plan
An answer key for The Brown Family 2.2.5.A1 is located within the lesson plan answer key – Spending Plans Answer Key 2.2.5.C1.
A paper spending plan is provided in The Brown Family 2.2.5.A1. If computer access is available the Spending Plan Excel Template 2.2.5.E3 is also available to complete the Brown family spending plan.
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a. Refer participants to step two of The Brown Family 2.2.5.A1. b. John and Tia have requested that you create a spending plan for the
month of February. c. Since John and Tia already created a spreadsheet for their Income and
Expense, they have requested that the Spending Plan be created in the same manner.
d. Have participants find the column on the Brown families’ Income and Expense Statement where the Spending Plan will be created for the month of February.
15. Slide 15: Allocate Money to Each Category a. The next step in the spending plan development process is to allocate
money to each category. 16. Slide 16: When allocating money consider:
a. When creating a spending plan you should consider these factors. b. Analyze the trade‐offs and opportunity costs of those trade‐offs to
determine which spending decisions are going to make you the happiest.
c. Review your goals to ensure the decisions made on your spending plan align with your goals.
d. If you are reducing your expenses, consider thinking about expenses in terms of contractual versus non‐contractual. Contractual expenses are not easy to reduce or eliminate, because you have signed some sort of contract that requires you to pay that expense for a specific amount of time.
17. Slide 17: Spending Plan Guide a. It may help to refer to a spending guide when making decisions
regarding how much to spend for each expense. The pie chart provides a guide for typical percentages of income spent in each expense category.
b. Ask participants what variables may cause the spending guide to look different and discuss within their groups. Discuss how this is only a guide and percentages may change due to many factors such as where you live (cost of living), age, income, etc.
18. Slide 18: Net Gain or Net Loss? a. Once all money has been allocated in the spending plan, determine if
you have a net gain or net loss by subtracting expenses from income. b. If the resulting amount is positive, you have a net gain. You can add
more money to savings or another expense. c. If the resulting amount is negative, you have a net loss. You need to
increase income, decrease expenses, or do a combination of both. 19. Slide 19: The Brown Family – Step Three: Allocate Money to Each Category
a. Refer participants the “step three” section of The Brown Family 2.2.5.A1 as well as their Income and Expense Statement on the last page of The Brown Family 2.2.5.A1.
b. The couple has indicated a * next to expenses that are either contractual or they are unwilling to decrease (they can be increased). Therefore, these expenses cannot change from the amount on the Income and Expense Statement. Make sure participants find the *’s on the Income and Expense Statement.
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c. Remind participants to consider the goals John and Tia identified when creating their Spending Plan, and also consider the trade‐offs they will have to make due to the changes indicated in the Spending Plan.
20. Slide 20: The Brown Family – Step Three: Allocate Money to Each Category a. Refer participants to the “Planned Amount for February” column of the
Brown Family’s Income and Expense Statement on The Brown Family 2.2.5.A1.
b. Have participants use this column to create a Spending Plan for John and Tia.
c. When everyone has completed the Spending Plan for John and Tia for the month of February, have participants discuss the changes made with their groups.
d. Then, have participants explain each change that they made in the space provided in step three of The Brown Family 2.2.5.A1.
e. Then, have participants re‐write John and Tia’s goals into SMART goals using the new spending plan in the space provided in step three of The Brown Family 2.2.5.A1
21. Slide 21: Implement and Control a. Once you have created your spending plan, ensure that you make those
planned spending decisions. This is the hardest part of the spending plan process for most.
b. There are many types of control systems available to help you monitor your spending.
22. Slide 22: Control Systems a. Discuss the different types of control systems. b. Provide examples when possible.
i. Sample Internet‐based control systems are available in the supplemental resources section.
c. Ask participants to determine which control system would work best for them and share within their groups. Stress that many options are available, use what is best for you.
23. Slide 23: The Brown Family – Step Four: Implement and Control a. Refer to step four of The Brown Family 2.2.5.A1 and have participants
explain what control system they would recommend for John and Tia based upon the information they know about the couple.
b. Discuss the answers within their groups. 24. Slide 24: Evaluate and Make Adjustments
a. After implementing your spending plan, you aren’t quite done. The last step is to evaluate how well your spending plan worked and make any necessary adjustments.
25. Slide 25: The Brown Family a. Refer participants to step five of The Brown Family 2.2.5.A1. b. John and Tia have evaluated their spending plan and realized that they
should increase the amount of their grocery budget by $20.00. c. Have participants make this adjustment, ensuring that the spending
plan still has a net gain or zero balance. d. Refer to step five of The Brown Family 2.2.5.A1 and have participants
answer the final question: “How has developing a spending plan helped the Brown family?”
Teach the Setting Financial Goals Lesson Plan 2.1.4 to learn the SMART goal process.
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e. Now that they know about spending plans, ask participants to determine how creating a spending plan could help them now and in the future.
26. Slide 26: Summary
CONCLUSION OPTIONS There are two conclusion options provided for this lesson. 1. Option 1: Letter of Advice for the Brown Family 2. Option 2: Interview
Option 1: Letter of Advice for the Brown Family Approximate time: 45 minutes Materials to prepare: 1 Letter of Advice for the Brown Family Rubric 2.2.5.B1 per participant
1. Extend the Brown Family Scenario. Have participants write a letter to John and
Tia as their financial advisor. Refer to the Letter of Advice for the Brown Family Rubric 2.2.5.B1 for instructions.
Option 2: Interview Approximate time: 15 minutes if reflection questions and a discussion are completed in class. Time outside of class will be needed to complete the interview. Materials to prepare: 1 Spending Plan: Mission Home Front 2.2.5.A2 per participant 1. Have participants interview an adult using Spending Plan: Mission Home Front
2.2.5.A2 and then answer the reflection questions. a. Remind participants to ask follow‐up questions if necessary to go
beyond yes or no responses. 2. Have an in‐class discussion regarding what was learned from the interviews.
ASSESSMENT OPTIONS There are three assessment options provided for this lesson. Option 1: Reinforcement Worksheet Option 2: Scenario‐ The Carson Family Option 3: My Spending Plan
Have participants work in teams and act out a meeting between the Brown family and the financial advisor(s). The financial advisor(s) can provide the family with the same advice outlined in the letter. Create a video of the “meeting.”
Use a brainstorming/ discussion Web 2.0 tool to collect anonymous responses to the interview questions to complete the in‐class discussion. Refer to the Technology Integration Options Active Learning Tool 3.0.50 guide.
Expand upon reflection question 3 by discussing the importance of clear communication with spouses and/or family members when making spending decisions.
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Option 1: Reinforcement Worksheet Approximate time: 20 minutes Materials to prepare: 1 Spending Plans 2.2.5.A3 per participant 1. Complete Spending Plans 2.2.5.A3 as directed.
Option 2: Scenario‐ The Carson Family Approximate time: 45 minutes Materials to prepare: 1 The Carson Family 2.2.5.A4 per participant 1. Complete The Carson Family 2.2.5.A4 individually or in small groups
Option 3: My Spending Plan Approximate time: 45 minutes Materials to prepare: 1 My Spending Plan 2.2.5.A5 per participant Spending Plan Template 2.2.5.E2 or Spending Plan Excel Template 2.2.5.E3 per
participant 1. Have participants create a Spending Plan for themselves using the My Spending
Plan 2.2.5.A5. a. If the My Income and Expense Statement 2.2.4.A4 assessment from the
Income and Expense Statement Lesson Plan 2.2.4 was completed, use the completed statement to conduct this assignment. If the My Income and Expense Statement 2.2.4.A4 assessment was not completed, consider completing that assignment before the My Spending Plan 2.2.5.A5. The assignment will take more time if the My Income and Expense Statement 2.2.4.A4 assessment has not been completed.
b. Two templates are provided to create the Spending Plan: Spending Plan Template 2.2.5.E2 to complete by hand, and a Microsoft Excel template Spending Plan Excel Template 2.2.5.E3 to create electronically.
Have participants write a letter of advice to the Carson family similar to the letter of advice for the Brown Family.
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Spending Plans Vocabulary List
TERM DEFINITION
1 Spending plan An income and expense statement sometimes referred to as a budget which records both planned and actual income and expenses over a period of time
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Step 1 ‐ Track Current
Income and Expenses
Step 2 ‐Personalize
Your Spending Plan
Step 3 ‐Allocate Money to
Each Category
Step 4 ‐Implement and Control
Step 5: Evaluate and
Make Adjustments
Spending Plans Note Taking Guide
Total Points Earned Name
Total Points Possible Date
Percentage Class
Directions: Use the prompts provided to help you take notes during the lesson.
Circle the steps in the
spending plan
development process that
develop a spending plan.
Place a square around the
steps in the spending plan
development process that
maintain a spending plan.
The Spending Plan
The Spending Plan Development Process
What is a Spending Plan? Draw a line to match each money management tool with the
appropriate time frame.
Why is a Spending Plan an important part of financial planning?
Statement of Financial Position
Income and Expense Statement
Spending Plan
Past
Future
Today
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1 By creating an Income and Expense Statement, you have already tracked income and expenses.
Why is tracking income and expenses an important part of creating a Spending Plan?
2 How will you develop a
Spending Plan?
What are two methods that
may be used to develop a
Spending Plan?
1.
2.
Select a time period for your
spending plan.
What time period do most
people use for their Spending
Plan?
What categories will your
Spending Plan include?
Why are categories different for
everyone’s Spending Plan?
3 What are three things to consider when
determining how much money to allocate to
each category? Explain.
1.
2.
3.
Plan how much money to allocate for each category.
It may help to refer to a spending guide when making
decisions regarding how much to spend for each
expense. What percentage of net income for each
expense category is included in the spending plan guide?
Saving and Investing:
Insurance:
Housing:
Transportation:
Food:
Other:
What do you do if you have a net gain? What do you do if you have a net loss?
4 5 Implement the Spending Plan and ensure
you stick to that plan.
What are two types of control systems?
1.
2.
Why is evaluating and adjusting a Spending
Plan important?
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The Brown Family
Total Points Earned Name
23 Total Points Possible Date
Percentage Class
Congratulations! You have been hired as a financial advisor for John and Tia Brown. During your meeting with the
couple, John and Tia inform you that they have already developed a Statement of Financial Position and an Income and
Expense Statement and used them to identify their financial goals:
1. Increase the amount of their emergency savings fund
2. Pay more on their monthly car loan payment to pay the loan off faster
3. Spend less money dining out at restaurants
4. Even though both John and Tia must purchase dress clothes for work, they want to spend less money on
clothing every month
In order to reach these financial goals, John and Tia know they need to develop a Spending Plan. This is where they need
your assistance. The couple does not know how to develop a Spending Plan and would like advice regarding what
changes to make to their expenses in order to reach their goals. Follow the spending plan development process below to
develop a Spending Plan for the Brown family.
Step One: Track Current Income and Expenses
John and Tia kept all their receipts for the month of January to develop an Income and Expense Statement
Review John and Tia’s January Income and Expense Statement for a realistic view of their income and expenses.
Step Two: Personalize Your Spending Plan
John and Tia have requested that you develop a spending plan for the month of February. The couple used a
spreadsheet to develop their Income and Expense Statement and have requested the same document and same
categories for their Spending Plan. Find the column on the Brown family’s Income and Expense Statement where the
Spending Plan will be created for February.
Step Three: Allocate Money to Each Category
Use the column provided on John and Tia’s January Income and Expense Statement to develop a spending plan for the
family for the month of February. The couple has indicated a * next to expenses that are either contractual or they are
unwilling to decrease. Remember to consider John and Tia’s goals and consider the trade‐offs they will have to make as
a result of the changes. The final Spending Plan must have a net gain or a zero balance. (10 points for completion)
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When the spending plan is complete, explain each change that you made. (5 points for completions)
Expenses decreased and by how much Expenses increased and by how much
Now that their spending plan is complete, re‐write John and Tia’s goals into SMART goals using their new spending plan.
Make sure to indicate the trade‐off(s) that will have to be made in order to reach each goal. (4 points)
Example: John and Tia plan to save $____ for their emergency fund by saving an additional $______ each month for
“x” months. They will need to spend less on eating out to accomplish this goal.
1
2
Step Four: Implement and Control
What control system would you recommend John and Tia use? Explain. (2 points)
Step Five: Evaluate and Make Adjustments
After evaluating the spending plan, John and Tia realized that if they dine out at restaurants less often they will need to
increase the amount planned for their monthly grocery expense. They would like to increase their grocery budget by
$20.00. Make this adjustment to John and Tia’s Spending Plan ensuring they still have a net gain or zero balance. (1 point)
How has creating a spending plan helped the Brown Family? (1 point)
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Income and Expense Statement for: John and Tia Brown
Time Period: January
Amount Planned Amount for February
Income
Earned Income
Wages or salary before deductions 5,500.00
Total Income $5,500.00 $
Expenses
Deductions Often Taken from Paychecks
*Contribution to a retirement program (401k, 403b) 385.00
*Federal Income Tax 1,100.00
*Social Security 317.13
*Medicare 74.17
Saving and Investing (Pay Yourself First)
Contribution to savings and investments 250.00
Emergency Savings 0.00
Insurance Premiums
*Health insurance, Medicaid and Medicare 250.00
*Renters or homeowners insurance 15.00
*Automobile insurance 70.00
Housing Costs
*Housing payment (rent or mortgage) 800.00
*Utilities (gas, electricity, water, garbage) 100.00
Transportation Costs
*Automobile payment 200.00
*Fuel (gasoline/diesel) 100.00
*Automobile repairs and maintenance 50.00
*Public transportation fees 50.00
*Automobile license and registration (yearly fee) 20.00
Food Costs
Food at the grocery store 300.00
Meals at restaurants 350.00
Snacks away from home (coffees, treats) 30.00
Non‐food kitchen supplies (plastic wrap, dish soap) 30.00
Communication and Computers
*Cell phone 110.00
*Internet 60.00
*Cable/satellite television 40.00
Medical Costs Not Covered by Insurance
*Medical care 100.00
Clothing and Personal Care
Clothing 250.00
Personal care (shampoo, haircuts, cosmetics, laundry, etc.) 150.00
Entertainment
Movies, books, and other entertainment 200.00
Total Expenses $5,401.30 $
Net Gain or Net Loss (Income less Expenses) $98.70 $
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© Take Charge Today – August 2013 – Spending Plans Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Institute at The University of Arizona
Letter of Advice for the Brown Family Rubric Total Points Earned
Name
24 Total Points Possible
Date
Percentage
Class
Directions: The Brown family has asked that as their financial advisor you write them a letter addressing the following questions:
1. Why it is important for us to develop and maintain a spending plan? 2. We don’t know how to develop a spending plan. Would you explain exactly how you developed our spending
plan so we can repeat the process? 3. What changes did you make to our January Income and Expense Statement in order to develop our February
spending plan? Please make sure to explain why you made each change. 4. Our goals needed to be more specific after creating our spending plan. What do you think our new, more
specific goals should be? 5. What control system do you recommend we utilize and why? 6. We want to evaluate our spending plan from month to month and ensure it continues to work for us. Do you
have any advice for us regarding how to best do this? (offer at least one piece of advice)
Exemplary Satisfactory Unsatisfactory No Performance
Score
Content: All six reflective questions are
addressed Answers are accurate
12‐9 8‐5 4‐1 0
Writing Skills: Sentences are fluent and effective Very few errors in mechanics,
punctuation and word choice Letter includes an introduction, body,
and conclusion
6‐5 4‐3 2‐1 0
Effectiveness of Presentation: Clearly prepared Easily read and neatly assembled Minimum of one‐page, double‐
spaced with 12 font and 1‐inch margins.
6‐5 4‐3 2‐1 0
Total Points Earned Total Points Available 24
Percentage
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© Take Charge Today – August 2013 – Spending Plans Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Institute at The University of Arizona
Spending Plan: Mission Home Front
Total Points Earned
Name
20 Total Points Possible
Date
Percentage
Class
Dear Role Model, Our goal is to create a young adult that is better armed to manage their personal finances. We are studying spending plans (also known as a budget) in class. To help students recognize their newly gained knowledge as applicable, we are asking them to interview an adult, preferably a family member. It is hoped that this will help them understand how the family money comes and goes and gain an appreciation for money management techniques that individuals use. Instructions: Interview a role model about spending plans and how they use them, and then answer the reflection questions. (10 points for completion) 1. How is it decided what specific items money is spent on? (Example: food, clothing, etc.)
How: 2. Do you write out a hard copy of a “spending plan” or “budget?” □ Yes □ No
If yes: For what period of time is it? □ Monthly □ Weekly □ Bi‐Weekly □ Yearly □ Other _________ Why did you choose this time period?
If no: Do you think having a hard copy of a spending plan would help you manage your money? Explain.
3. Have you ever tracked your spending? □ Yes □ No
If yes: Were you surprised at the findings? Did you spend more or less on an item than you previously thought?
If no: Do you think you would benefit from tracking your spending. Explain.
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© Take Charge Today – August 2013 – Spending Plans Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Institute at The University of Arizona
4. How do you ensure there is enough money to pay bills and meet expenses throughout the month in your household?
5. Do you plan to, or would you like to, make changes to the way that you currently manage your personal spending
plan/budget?
6. Based on your experiences with spending plans/budgeting, what advice would you give me?
7. What do you wish you would have known regarding spending plans/budgeting when you were my age?
Name of Adult:
Signature of Adult:
Phone number:
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
Instructions: Answer the following questions. 1. What did you learn from the interview? Identify at least two items. (2 points)
2. When creating your own personal spending plan, explain how you will use each step of the spending plan process? (5 points)
3. Hypothesize the importance of communication when developing a spending plan for a family. (3 points)
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© Take Charge Today – August 2013 – Spending Plans Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Institute at The University of Arizona
Spending Plans
Total Points Earned
Name
13 Total Points Possible
Date
Percentage
Class
Directions: Answer the following questions with complete sentences.
1. Why are spending plans an important part of financial planning? Support your answer with two reasons. (2 points)
2. What role does the Statement of Financial Position and Income and Expense Statement play in the process of creating a spending plan? (2 points)
3. The spending plan development process includes steps for creating and maintaining a spending plan. Why do you think it is important to maintain a spending plan after creating it? (1 point)
4. Templates are available for creating spending plans. Do you have to use all the categories listed on a
template? Why or why not? (2 points)
5. Why is it important to identify contractual expenses when creating a spending plan? (1 point)
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© Take Charge Today – August 2013 – Spending Plans Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Institute at The University of Arizona
6. Imagine that you are creating a spending plan. Using the five steps of the spending plan development process,
describe in detail what you would do to create your spending plan from beginning to end. (5 points)
1. Track Current Income and Expenses
Make sure to indicate how you would track your income and expenses and justify your choice by
describing how it would fit your lifestyle.
2. Personalize Your Spending Plan
3. Allocate Money to Each Category
Make sure to indicate how you would determine which changes to make to spending.
4. Implement and Control
Make sure to indicate which control system you would use and justify your choice by describing how it
would fit your lifestyle.
5. Evaluate and Make Adjustments
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© Take Charge Today – August 2013 – Spending Plans Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Institute at The University of Arizona
The Carson Family
Total Points Earned
Name
43 Total Points Possible
Date
Percentage
Class
Directions: Read the scenario below to learn about the Carson family. While reading, underline any financial goals the family has identified and circle any changes that can be made to their financial decisions to help them reach their financial goals. (5 points for completion) Sarah and Jim met early in college. After a whirlwind romance Sarah and Jim were married in six months. It wasn’t long until Sarah became pregnant. They had a son, Sammy, who is now three years old. Sarah and Jim had hoped to both finish college before they started a family; when they found out they were expecting their first child earlier than planned, they were determined to have at least one of them stay in school. Jim was very lucky to already have a job as a waiter at a popular chain restaurant. This job paid enough to support their family. Therefore, Jim and Sarah made the decision for Jim to work full‐time and Sarah would continue going to college full‐time. Even though Jim and Sarah have managed to get by financially, it hasn’t been easy. Money is tight each month. When Sarah and Jim married, they used their credit card to fund their honeymoon trip. At the time they thought it would be easy to pay back the money charged to their credit card. However, that was before Sammy came along. They have been having a hard time making more than the minimum monthly payment on their credit card. Therefore, Jim and Sarah want to create a spending plan to help them pay off their credit card and make some other financial changes. Sarah and Jim kept all of their receipts for the month of May and created an Income and Expense Statement. As a waiter, Jim is able to work the evening shift and stay home with Sammy during the day while Sarah is attending classes. Sarah comes home at night and takes over care of Sammy while Jim goes to work. Although with this arrangement Jim and Sarah aren’t able to spend much time together, it allows them to not have to pay for childcare. This is a sacrifice they are willing to make in order for Sarah to remain in school. Jim and Sarah budget $750 per month to pay for Sarah’s college tuition for the entire year. The couple completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year. This form is free and determines if you are eligible for grants and loans from the federal government to help pay for college. Luckily, Sarah received a Pell grant this year that helps pay for $90 per month of her tuition costs. This is great because grant money does not have to be paid back like loan money. Sarah was also very lucky to receive a scholarship from the university that covers a large portion of her tuition costs. She is extremely grateful for this scholarship, because without it she doesn’t think she would be able to attend college right now. However, in order to keep her scholarship she must maintain a GPA above 3.75. This requires her to spend extra time on her school work. Therefore, when looking at their Income and Expense Statement, Sarah does not think they can increase their earned income. Jim already works full‐time and takes care of Sammy during his time off, and she does not feel it would be good for her well‐being to take on a job in addition to school and caring for Sammy. Even with the grant and scholarship, Sarah’s tuition costs are still not completely paid for. On their Income and Expense Statement, Sarah and Jim indicate the $200 per month they are borrowing from student loans to pay for the remainder
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© Take Charge Today – August 2013 – Spending Plans Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Institute at The University of Arizona
of her tuition. Sarah and Jim want to make changes to their spending in order to pay for rest of her tuition themselves versus taking out student loans. Sarah also recognizes that they currently do not have any life insurance. This makes her very uneasy, and Jim agrees that this isn’t the best financial move now that they have a child. Life insurance coverage for both Sarah and Jim will cost $75 per month. Even though the couple can’t increase their earned income, Jim and Sarah do see some changes that could be made to their expenses. Both Sarah and Jim are surprised to see how much they spent dining out at restaurants. The couple agrees that they will spend no more than $40 dining out every month. Jim points out that they spend $90 per month to have two cell phones, but they really only need one cell phone to keep at home in case of an emergency with Sammy. Sarah thinks this is a great idea but worries that they may be locked into a contract that would require them to keep both cell phones. After making a call to their cell phone provider, they find out that that they have flexibility with their cell phone contract and if they want, they would be able to cancel one cell phone. This would decrease their monthly cell phone bill to $50.00. Sarah breaths a deep sigh of relief when she gets to the cigarettes category, because Jim has recently quit smoking. This is something that he has been trying to do since they married. On a recent trip to the doctor, Sammy was diagnosed with a moderate form of asthma. This was the motivation Jim needed to quit smoking. The doctor told him about a non‐profit organization that provides support and helps pay for a medicine that helps you quit smoking. After seeing that he was spending $266.00 per month on cigarettes, Jim feels a large sense of accomplishment and is glad that money can now be used to pay for other expenses. The couple pays $400.00 per month for health insurance for the three of them. Jim and Sarah are not willing to give up the sense of security that comes with having health insurance, especially with Sammy’s asthma. In fact, even with insurance, Sammy’s asthma medication costs $100.00 per month, and the family spends an additional $100.00 on average for necessary doctor visits each month. Of their other expenses, Jim and Sarah don’t see any other changes they can or are willing to make. They already live in a one‐bedroom apartment, share one car, and limit their grocery, clothing, personal care, and entertainment costs. The couple is definitely not willing to decrease the $50.00 per month saved in their emergency savings fund. Follow the spending plan development process below to help Sarah and Jim create a spending plan for the month of June.
Step One: Track Current Income and Expenses
Jim and Sarah have already completed the tracking of their income and expenses by saving their receipts for the month
of May and creating an Income and Expense Statement. From this Income and Expense Statement, they have identified
several financial goals that they want their spending plan to help them reach. What financial goals did Jim and Sarah
identify? (5 points for completion)
What changes to expenses have the couple identified they could make to help them reach their financial goals? (5 points for completion)
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© Take Charge Today – August 2013 – Spending Plans Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Institute at The University of Arizona
Place a star next to the income and expense categories that the couple can’t or are unwilling to change. (5 points for completion)
Step Two: Personalize Your Spending Plan
Jim and Sarah would like a spending plan created for the month of June. The couple used a spreadsheet to develop their
Income and Expense Statement and have requested that the same document and same categories for their spending
plan.
Step Three: Allocate Money to Each Category
Use the column provided on Jim and Sarah’s Income and Expense Statement to develop a spending plan for the family
for the month of June. Use the goals and financial changes identified in step one to develop the spending plan. Make
sure to consider the trade‐offs the family will have to make as a result of the changes. The final Spending Plan must have
a net gain or a zero balance. (10 points for completion)
When the spending plan is complete, explain each change that you made. (5 points for completion)
Now that their spending plan is complete, re‐write Sarah and Jim’s goals into SMART goals using their new spending
plan. Make sure to indicate the trade‐off(s) that will have to be made in order to reach each goal. (5 points for completion)
Step Four: Implement and Control
What control system would you recommend Sarah and Jim use? Explain. (2 points)
Step Five: Evaluate and Make Adjustments
How has creating a spending plan helped the Carson family? (1 point)
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© Take Charge Today – August 2013 – Spending Plans Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Institute at The University of Arizona
Income and Expense Statement for: Sarah and Jim Carson
Time Period: May
Amount Planned Amount for June
Income
Earned Income
Wages or salary before deductions 1200.00
Commissions/tips/bonuses 2400.00
Unearned Income
Money from savings and investments to help pay expenses during this time period 0.00
Scholarships from non‐government sources 460.00
Other: Student loan money received 200.00
Received Income from Government Programs
Grants from government sources 90.00
Total Income $4,350.00
Expenses
Deductions Often Taken from Paychecks
Federal Income tax 600.00
Social Security 223.20
Medicare 52.20
Saving and Investing (Pay Yourself First)
Contribution to emergency savings 50.00
Contribution to savings to pay tuition 0.00
Insurance Premiums
Health insurance, Medicaid and Medicare 400.00
Automobile insurance 35.00
Life insurance 0.00
Housing Costs
Housing payment (rent or mortgage) 575.00
Utilities (gas, electricity, water, garbage) 100.00
Transportation Costs
Fuel (gasoline/diesel) 100.00
Automobile repairs and maintenance 75.00
Automobile license and registration (yearly fee) 10.00
Food Costs
Food at the grocery store 400.00
Meals at restaurants 100.00
Non‐food kitchen supplies (plastic wrap, dish soap) 20.00
Communication and Computers
Cell phone 90.00
Medical Costs Not Covered by Insurance
Medical care 100.00
Medications – prescription, over‐the‐counter 100.00
Clothing and Personal Care
Clothing 75.00
Personal care (shampoo, haircuts, cosmetics, laundry, etc.) 50.00
Educational Expenses
Tuition for private school or higher education 750.00
Educational supplies: Books 75.00
Entertainment
Movies, books, toys, and other entertainment 50.00
Other: Cigarettes 266.00
Credit Costs
Credit card payment 30.00
Total Expenses $4,326.40
Net Gain or Net Loss (Income less Expenses) $23.60
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© Take Charge Today – August 2013 – Spending Plans Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Institute at The University of Arizona
My Spending Plan
Total Points Earned
Name
43 Total Points Possible
Date
Percentage
Class
Directions: Follow the steps below to create a Spending Plan for yourself.
Step One: Track Income and Expenses
If you haven’t already, create an Income and Expense Statement to track your income and expenses. (10 points for completion) What tracking method did you use? Explain why this tracking method fits your lifestyle. (2 points)
Would you use this tracking method again or try a different method? Explain. (2 points)
Step Two: Personalize Your Spending Plan
How will you develop your spending plan? Explain why this type of spending plan fits your lifestyle. (2 points)
What is the intended time period for your spending plan? Why? (2 points)
Will you add, remove, or change any categories from your Income and Expense Statement? (2 points)
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© Take Charge Today – August 2013 – Spending Plans Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Institute at The University of Arizona
Step Three: Allocate Money to Each Category
Using the template provided, create a spending plan for yourself. (10 points for completion)
Summarize what changes you planned to your income and expenses. (5 points for completion)
Write a SMART financial goal for at least one item on your spending plan. (5 points)
Step Four: Implement and Control
What control system will you use? Explain why this control system fits your lifestyle. (2 points)
Step Five: Evaluate and Make Adjustments
Why is it important to evaluate and adjust your spending plan? (1 point)
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© Take Charge Today – August 2013 – Spending Plans Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Institute at The University of Arizona
Spending Plan Template
Total Points Earned Name
Total Points Possible Date
Percentage Class
Spending Plan for:
Time Period:
Planned Amount Actual Amount
Income
Earned Income
Wages or salary before deductions
Commissions/tips/bonuses
Tax refunds
Unearned Income
Interest earned used time period
Investment earnings used this time period
Sales of assets
Money from savings and investments to help pay expenses during this time period
Scholarships/grants from non‐government sources
Money from others
Child support
Other
Received Income from Government Programs
Scholarships/grants from government sources
Other government programs
Total Income $ $
Expenses
Deductions Often Taken from Paychecks
Contribution to a retirement program (401k, 403b)
Individual retirement account contribution (IRA)
Federal Income Tax
State Income Tax
Social Security
Medicare
Saving and Investing (Pay Yourself First)
Contribution to savings and investments
Insurance Premiums
Health insurance, Medicaid and Medicare
Renters or homeowners insurance
Automobile insurance
Disability insurance
Life insurance
Housing Costs
Property taxes (if house or condo is owned)
Housing payment (rent or mortgage)
Utilities (gas, electricity, water, garbage)
Household furnishings
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© Take Charge Today – August 2013 – Spending Plans Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Institute at The University of Arizona
Household maintenance and repairs
Transportation Costs
Automobile payment
Fuel (gasoline/diesel)
Automobile repairs and maintenance
Public transportation fees
Automobile license and registration (yearly fee)
Food Costs
Food at the grocery store
Meals at restaurants
Snacks away from home (coffees, treats)
Non‐food kitchen supplies (plastic wrap, dish soap)
Family Member Care
Child care or other dependent care
Personal allowances
Communication and Computers
Telephone land line
Cell phone
Internet
Cable/satellite television
Computer‐related expenses
Medical Costs Not Covered by Insurance
Medical care
Dental care
Eye care (check‐ups, glasses, contact lenses)
Medications – prescription, over‐the‐counter
Clothing and Personal Care
Clothing
Personal care (shampoo, haircuts, cosmetics, laundry, etc.)
Educational Expenses
Tuition for private school or higher education
Private lessons
Sports and organization fees
Educational supplies (books, news)
Pet Care
Pet food
Pet supplies (toys, medicine)
Veterinary services
Pet care (pet walking, overnight stays, grooming)
Entertainment
Movies, books, and other entertainment
Vacations
Other
Gifts and Charitable Contributions
Gifts to others and charitable contributions to organizations
Credit Costs
Student loan payment
Credit card payment
Other:
Total Expenses $ $
Net Gain or Net Loss (Income less Expenses) $ $
2.2.5.F1
© Take Charge Today – Updated August 2013 – Spending Plans – Page 1 Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Ins tute at The University of Arizona
Spending Plans Advanced Level
The Statement of Financial Posi on and the Income and Expense Statement help
you measure your past and present financial posi on. Now you are ready to make
a plan for your future money management.
A Spending Plan is forward‐looking income and expense statement some mes
referred to as a budget. It records both planned and actual income and expenses
over a period of me. A Spending Plan is an important part of financial planning
because it helps you take control of your spending, and, therefore, control your
financial future. By using a Spending Plan to help manage your money, you will be
able to increase your net worth and reach your financial goals.
Use the Statement of Financial Posi on and the Income and Expense Statement to
set goals and determine what changes to make to your financial decisions. Then,
use a Spending Plan to implement those changes. If you thought you spent too
much on a certain expense in the past, then use your Spending Plan to limit the
amount of money you plan to spend in the next me period. When comparing the
Statement of Financial Posi on, the Income and Expense Statement and a
Spending Plan, think of the differences in terms of past, present and future
financial ac vity.
Have you ever developed a Spending Plan? If so, did it
help you take control of your money? If not, do you think
a spending plan would help you manage your money?
Why is a Spending Plan an important part of financial planning?
Individuals usually have more wants than they can afford with their income. Therefore, individuals must make trade‐offs
in their spending decisions. A Spending Plan forces you to consider the opportunity costs of your planned purchases to
help you manage your money in a way that maximizes your financial well‐being.
2.2.5.F1
© Take Charge Today – Updated August 2013 – Spending Plans – Page 2 Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Ins tute at The University of Arizona
1
Developing Your Spending Plan
Like an Income and Expense Statement, a Spending Plan (or budget) includes
income, expenses and a net gain or net loss. Crea ng a Spending Plan is a
simple five‐step process. The first three steps develop the spending plan, and
the last two steps help maintain the spending plan.
The first step to crea ng a spending plan is to determine how
much money you earn and how you spend it. You already
completed this step when you created your Income and Expense
Statement, so it is important not to skip the Income and Expense
Statement step. The record of your earnings and expenses on
your Income and Expense Statement ensures that your Spending
Plan is realis c.
The most effec ve Spending Plans are those that are personalized. In this next step you should personalize
your spending plan by answering three ques ons: 2 1. How will you develop a Spending Plan? Write down your Spending Plan because without a tangible record of your
planned and actual spending, you may think that you are earning more or spending less than you actually are. You
can: Simply use paper and pencil to develop and keep track of your plan
Develop your plan in a spreadsheet for easy tracking.
Purchase a money management computer so ware program which
helps develop personalized Spending Plans, as well as financial
statements, tax reports and other personal finance reports.
Use a smartphone or tablet to download money management
applica ons (apps).
2. Determine a me period for your Spending Plan. A monthly me period is most common. However, you might get
paid weekly or bi‐weekly and prefer to set up your Spending Plan accordingly. Your Spending Plan is exactly that –
your plan. Set a me period that meets your needs. 3. What categories will your Spending Plan include? Personalize your plan further by determining what income and
expense categories to include. Refer to your Income and Expense Statement and determine if you need to add,
change or remove any categories.
A spreadsheet may be created
with Microso Excel or
Google Docs. Quicken is an
example of a money
management computer
so ware.
What method of crea ng a Spending Plan and what me period would work best for you? Why?
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© Take Charge Today – Updated August 2013 – Spending Plans – Page 3 Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Ins tute at The University of Arizona
Now you are ready to plan how much money to allocate in each category. Consider the following:
Analyze the trade‐offs across spending categories to determine which alloca on of your budget will make
you the happiest. If the opportunity cost is too high, your planned decision may not be realis c and it
may be tough to s ck to the plan.
Review your goals to ensure the Spending Plan decisions align with your goals.
If you are considering ways to reduce your expenses, think about the expenses on your Spending Plan as
contractual versus non‐contractual. Contractual expenses
are not easy to reduce or eliminate because you have
signed some sort of contract that requires you to pay that
expense for a specific amount of me (car loan,
educa on loan, credit card debt, apartment lease). Non‐
contractual expenses are easier to either eliminate or
reduce. Food is a necessity, but the purchase of la es and
late‐night pizzas can be reduced.
It may help you to refer to a spending guide when deciding
how much to allocate to each expense. This pie chart
provides a guide for distribu ng net income spent to each
expense category.
Once you have allocated your money, determine if you have a net gain or net loss. Subtrac ng expenses from income
determines this. If the resul ng amount is nega ve, it means that you have a net loss and are planning to spend more
income than you have. In this case, you need to increase income, decrease expenses or do a combina on of both. If
the resul ng amount is posi ve, you have a net gain. You can add more money to savings or pay down another
liability. You ul mately want to have a net gain or at least a zero balance.
3
Contractual Non‐contractual
Required to pay expense
for a specific amount of
me—not easy to reduce
or eliminate
Easy to reduce or
eliminate
Rent, Internet, Cell phone Food, entertainment
Do you have any contractual expenses? If so, what are they?
When this step is complete, you have
developed a spending plan! Expenses Net Gain or Loss Income
2.2.5.F1
© Take Charge Today – Updated August 2013 – Spending Plans – Page 4 Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Ins tute at The University of Arizona
4 When the opportunity to spend your income presents itself, you may find it easy to s ck to your planned
spending decisions. But, tempta on can pull pre y hard on you, so you may find that self‐control is difficult
in these situa ons. Luckily, there are many control systems available to help you monitor your spending. Find
a control system that works for you. Some examples include:
Money management computer so ware: In addi on to crea ng your spending plan, computer so ware programs
can also func on as a control system to tell you where your money is going. However, this will require you to keep
track of every one of your financial transac ons and enter them into the program.
Internet‐based spending plan program: There are many Internet‐based spending plan programs available. Some are
free and others charge a fee. The advantage of Internet‐based spending plan programs is they allow you to access
your informa on from any device that has Internet access. Also, many of these programs will link to your
depository ins tu on accounts and automa cally track your spending for you. This is an advantage over most
computer so ware programs that require you to take the me to enter your
financial informa on. Many Internet programs have developed smartphone
and tablet apps so you can access your spending plan informa on on the go. Depository ins tu on programs: Some depository ins tu ons offer an on‐line
spending plan or budge ng program that links to your account(s) and will
automa cally track your spending to show you where your money is going. This may be in conjunc on with their
online and/or mobile banking offerings.
Check register system: The check register system is a control system that uses a checkbook register that is divided
into spending plan categories. When a purchase is made, you place that expenditure into the column created for a
given spending category. Envelope system: The envelope system is a strict control system that involves placing the budgeted amount of cash
into an envelope labeled for the expense. When the envelope is empty, the budgeted amount for that expense has
been spent for that me period. Be careful not to store too much cash in your envelopes because cash stored at
home is more vulnerable to loss and the . You may find that the envelope system works well for expense
categories that are subject to impulse purchases. Entertainment and food purchased away from home are good
examples. Using the envelope method for these categories, when the envelope is empty, further spending has to
wait un l the next period.
Mint and PearBudget are free
Internet spending plan
programs.
5 The last step is to evaluate how well your spending plan is working and make any necessary adjustments. If you
find it easy to s ck to your plan, then your Spending Plan works well and doesn’t need adjus ng. If you are
having difficulty holding your spending within the allocated amounts, ask yourself if the amounts are realis c.
Consider your goals when evalua ng and adjus ng your spending plan; this may determine if adjustments are
needed.
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