Budgeting Adult Living

What is a budget? A budget is a plan for spending and saving your money A budget includes: – Income- the amount of $ you earn or receive – Expenses- debts, obligations, or payments to others – Savings- money set aside for future (short and long term) needs

Why Budget? To keep track of expenses. (I just got paid…where did all my $ go?) To try to “live within your means” To have an adequate savings plan for emergencies and future financial needs

Income Each month you will receive money earned at the job that you have. Income is listed as: – Gross income- the amount you make before taxes and other deductions are taken out – Net income- the amount you actually “take home” *For budgeting purposes you should use the net income to create a monthly budget.

Taxes Before beginning a job, you will fill out a W4 form that will be sent to the federal (US) government to have taxes taken out of your paycheck. This money is used to fund national programs that benefit all Americans. A state tax form will also be filled out to have state taxes taken out of your pay. The state collects less tax than the US government and is used to fund local and state programs.

Withholdings You may have money withheld at the state and the federal level for paying taxes at the end of the year. Advantages: the money is taken out pre-tax and is safely held by the government Disadvantages: there is no way to get to your money if it is needed and tax is taken out in the event of over-collection

Other deductions Social Security and Medicare- Both are federal government programs that collect money from American workers to help other Americans. Social Security is used to aid elderly and others incapiable of earning money. Medicare helps provide health care to elderly and others who are unable to work to pay for health care.

Expenses Fixed Expenses Are usually the same from month to month, are hard to “cut” from the budget. Examples: Rent, car payment, insurance payment, cable bill, internet bill Variable Expenses Tend to fluctuate from month to month or don’t occur each month. Examples: Clothing, gifts, utilities that are calculated on use (electricity, gas), gasoline, donations

Average Expenses of Americans Under Age 25 Average income: $29,057 Average annual expendatures: $28,181 Average number of people living in residence:2 80% of people under 25 are “renters” 70% of people under 25 own or lease a vehicle

Annual Spending Averages of Americans Under Age 25