Monthly Cash Flow Plan Cash flows in and out each month. Make sure you tell it where to go! Yes, this budget form has a lot of lines and blanks. But that’s okay. We do that so we can list practically every expense imaginable on this form to prevent you from forgetting something. Don’t expect to put something on every line. Just use the ones that are relevant to your specific situation. Step 1 Enter your monthly take-home pay in the box at the top right (A). This is the amount you have for the month to budget. So far so good, huh? A Monthly Take-Home Pay Step 2 Within each main category, such as Food, there are subcategories, like Groceries. Start at the top and work your way down, filling out the Budgeted column (B) first. Add up each subcategory and put that number in the Total box (C). Also, pay attention to Dave’s recommended percentages (D). This will help you keep from budgeting too much for a category. Food B Housing C D Reality Check food Transportation Charity Personal Groceries Medical Recreation Savings Insurance Debt Envelope Clothing Utilities Envelope Spent Budgeted Restaurants Step 3 Finally, enter your take-home pay in the top box at the end of the page (E), then add up all categories and place that total in the Category Totals box (F). Then subtract your Category Totals amount from your Take-Home Pay. You should have a zero balance (G). Doesn’t that feel great? TAKE-HOME PAY E F – CATEGORY TOTALS G = ZERO BALANCE Step 4 When the month ends, put what you actually spent in the Spent column (H). That will help you make any necessary adjustments to the next month’s budget. Food H Housing Reality Check food Transportation Charity Personal Groceries Medical Recreation Savings Insurance Debt Envelope Clothing Utilities Envelope Restaurants Spent Budgeted d ng Monthly Cash Flow Plan Cash flows in and out each month. Make sure you tell it where to go! Monthly Take-Home Pay Add up budgeted column & enter here Food Housing Transportation Medical Charity Recreation ion Insurance Debt Envelope Utilities Envelope Tithes Savings Clothing Spent Charity Personal Insurance Debt Reality Check Envelope Recreation Savings Clothing Utilities Spent Envelope Emergency Fund Reality Check Budgeted Housing Recreation Savings Debt Envelope Clothing Utilities Envelope Charity Personal Insurance Debt Clothing Utilities CLOTHING Medical Recreation Savings Charity Personal Insurance Debt Envelope Medical Recreation Savings Clothing Utilities Envelope Spent Spent Envelope First Mortgage/Rent *2–7% Food Housing Transportation Medical TRANSPORTATION Charity Personal Insurance Gas & Oil Recreation Savings Clothing Debt Envelope Utilities Envelope License & Taxes Repairs/Maint. Car Replacement Association Dues Other _________________ Debt Envelope Clothing Utilities Envelope UTILITIES TOTAL Budgeted Electricity Transportation Charity Personal Insurance Debt TOTAL Budgeted Medical Recreation Savings Clothing Utilities TOTAL Envelope MEDICAL/HEALTH Housing Reality Check Envelope Spent Budgeted Medications Gas Doctor Bills Water Dentist Trash Optometrist Phone/Mobile Vitamins Internet Other _________________ Cable Other _________________ *5–10% Spent *10–15% Food Spent Budgeted Repairs & Tires Reality Check Real Estate Taxes Insurance TOTAL Adults TOTAL Budgeted Budgeted Envelope Cleaning/Laundry Transportation Spent opes Restaurants College Fund *25–35% Savings Groceries Medical Insurance Children Second Mortgage Personal Personal Retirement Fund HOUSING Housing Charity *5–15% Transportation Reality Check *10–15% Food FOOD Transportation TOTAL Food SAVING Medical Food Housing *10–15% Transportation Budgeted Charity & Offerings Reality Check Check ty CHARITY Personal These icons represent good options for cash envel TOTAL *5–10% TOTAL *Dave’s Recommended Percentages Sign in to FPU Central at daveramsey.com to download this form and explore our other online budgeting tools! Food Food Housing Transportation Medical Charity Recreation Personal Savings Insurance Clothing INSURANCE Debt Envelope Spent Budgeted Life Insurance Utilities Envelope Transportation Charity Insurance Debt Envelope RECREATION Housing Medical Recreation Savings Clothing Utilities Spent Envelope Vacation Homeowner/Renter *5–10% Auto Insurance DEBTS Disability Insurance Identity Theft Food Housing Reality Check Medical Charity Recreation Personal Savings PERSONAL Insurance Debt Envelope Transportation Charity Personal Insurance Debt Envelope TOTAL Housing Medical Recreation Savings Credit Card 1 _______ Clothing Utilities Envelope Credit Card 2 _______ Spent Budgeted Reality Check Credit Card 3 _______ Child Care/Sitter Credit Card 4 _______ Toiletries Credit Card 5 _______ Cosmetics/Hair Care Student Loan 1 Education/Tuition Student Loan 2 Books/Supplies Student Loan 3 Child Support Student Loan 4 Alimony Other _________________ Subscriptions Other _________________ Organization Dues Other _________________ Gifts (inc. Christmas) Other _________________ Replace Furniture Other _________________ Clothing Utilities Budgeted Car Payment 2 *10–25% Transportation Spent TOTAL Car Payment 1 Long-Term Care Food Budgeted Entertainment Reality Check Health Insurance ality Check Personal Envelope Pocket Money (His) Your goal is O% Pocket Money (Hers) *5–10% TOTAL Once you have completed filling out each category, subtract all category totals from your take-home pay. Baby Supplies Pet Supplies Use the “income sources” form if necessary Music/Technology Miscellaneous Add up totals from each category Other _________________ Other _________________ *5–10% TOTAL Remember — The goal of a zero- based budget is to get this number to zero TAKE-HOME PAY – CATEGORY TOTALS = ZERO BALANCE Sign in to FPU Central at daveramsey.com to download this form and explore our other online budgeting tools!
