Families Taking Charge: Setting Spending Priorities

Transcription

1 FamiliesTakingCharge:SettingSpendingPriorities RevisedByCeliaRayHayhoe,Ph.D.,CFP,FamilyResourceManagementSpecialist Facedwithareducedincome,manyfamilies waitsixmonthsorlongerbeforetheyreduce theirspending,accumulatingdebtandunpaid bills.familiesneedtocutbackonspendingright awaybydevelopingaspendingplantohelppay theirbillsandlivingexpenses. Manypeopletrytohidefinancialproblemsfrom themselvesorfamilymembers.notfacing problemscanbeverydestructivebecausethe worryandstresscausedbyfinancialuncertainty andlackofcashmaybeworsethanthefinancial problemitself.it simportanttolookrealistically atthesituationandactivelyseeksolutionsto problems,despitethediscomfort. Becausespendingdecisionsaffectthewhole family,talkwiththefamilyaboutthesituation. Letthemknowthefamilyneedstochangetheir spending.involvethemindecidingspending priorities.iffamilymembersunderstandthe toughchoicesthatmustbemadeandhavea voiceinmakingthedecisions,theywillbemorewillingtoacceptthedecisions.asyourfamilytalksaboutwhat ismostimportant,besuretolistentowhatotherssay.supportingeachothercanhelpyoupulltogetherasa familyandgetthroughthesehardtimes Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Mark A. McCann, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; Alma C. Hobbs, Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State, Petersburg.

2 HowOtherFamiliesHandleReducedIncome Studiesshowfamiliesrespondtoreducedincomebycuttingbackontheirspending.Spendingfornonessentials suchasluxuries,vacations,eatingout,andhomefurnishingsiseliminatedorreducedfirst.astheperiodof unemploymentorreducedincomecontinues,manyfamiliesalsoreportreducedspendingforbasicneeds includingfood,shelter,transportationandmedicalcare.familiesalsosaytheyrevisetheirbudgets.mostmake anewspendingplanthatincludesarevisedplanforgettingthebillspaid.thisisatimewhenyoumayfindit usefultouseawrittenspendingplan. Somefamiliesreportedusingmorecreditasawaytomanageduringunemployment.Borrowingorusingcredit topaybillsoftenbringsonlytemporaryrelief.forthosefamilieswhodidincreasetheiruseofcredit,themore theyborrowed,themoreunhappytheywerewiththeirfinancialsituation.studiesalsofoundthatfamilieswho quicklymadechangesintheirspendinghabitswerethemostsatisfiedwithhowtheyweremanagingduring unemployment.familieswhodidn tmakechangesfeltmoreoutofcontrolandmoredissatisfied. MakingaSpendingPlan Aspendingplanisalwaysaneffectivetooltohelpyougetthemostforyourmoney.Itisevenmoreimportant whenyouhaveasuddenchangeinyourincome.aspendingplanhelpsyou: makedecisionsabouthowtospendyourmoney provideforneedsbeforewants matchyourspendingtoyourcurrentincome preventfamilyargumentsovermoney Worksheet1, MonthlySpendingPlan, canhelpyousetupaspendingplanforyourcurrentincome.by comparingyourincomeandplannedexpensesbeforeandafteryourincomewasreduced,youcanseewhat changesareneeded. Step1YourIncome(Worksheet1A) Addupyourcurrenttotalfamilyincomefromallsources.IncludeUnemploymentCompensationaswellas incomefromotherfamilymembersifitisusedforfamilyexpenses.usethetake homeamount,orwhatyou actuallyhavetospendafterdeductions. Doyoureceiveincomefromanyofthesesources? Earningsfromemployedfamilymembers UnemploymentCompensation,SocialSecurity Giftsfromoutsidethefamily Withdrawalsfromsavings Tips,bonuses,andcommissions Interestordividends Childsupportoralimony Publicassistance Veteransbenefits 2

3 MonthlySpendingPlan(Worksheet1A) Step1 YourIncome(Take Home)* BeforeReduction AdjustedAmount Salary,wages $ $ UnemploymentCompensation $ $ Cashgifts $ $ Publicassistance $ $ Tips,bonusesandcommissions $ $ SocialSecurity,RailroadRetirementorVeteransbenefits $ $ Withdrawalsfromsavings $ $ Childsupportand/oralimony $ $ Interestanddividends $ $ OtherIncome $ $ A.TotalMonthlyIncome $ $ Step2YourMonthlyExpenses(Worksheet1B) Ifyouhadaspendingplanbeforeyourincomewasreduced,youprobablyknowhowmuchyouwerespending formonthlyexpenses.ifnot,useoldrecords,canceledchecks,billsandreceiptstofigureouthowmuchyou spentonthefollowingcategories. Housing mortgageorrentpayments,(propertytaxes&homeinsuranceifincludedinyourmortgage payment) Utilities electricity,gas,oil,phone,water,cabletv Food groceries,eatingout,schoollunches Transportation gas,carrepairsandmaintenance,parking,bus,taxifares Medicalcare doctor,dentist,clinic,hospital,medicine,glasses Creditpayments carpayments,installmentloans,creditcards,chargeaccounts HouseholdExpensesandMaintenance repairs,cleaningsupplies,papersupplies,towels,equipment ClothingandPersonalCare newclothingpurchases,laundry,drycleaning,haircare,cosmetics, toiletries EducationandRecreation books,magazines,newspapers,lessons,tuition,hobbies,clubdues,sports, petexpenses,entertainment,vacation,alcohol,tobacco Miscellaneous childcare,regularcontributions,personalallowances,childsupportpaid,alimonypaid. 3

4 Asyouthinkaboutwhatyouwerespendingandtrytoplanhowmuchyoucannowspend,askyourself thesequestions: Whichexpensesareessentialtoyourfamily swell being? Whichexpenseshavethehighestpriority?Publication inthisseries, HowtoDecide WhichBillstoPayFirst, canhelpyoudeterminethis. Whichareascanyoureducetokeepyourspendingwithinyourincome? Howmuchcanyouaffordtospendineachcategory? Adjusttheamountsyouspendineachexpensecategoryandenterthenewamountinthecolumnlabeled AdjustedAmount onthespendingplanworksheet. MonthlySpendingPlan(Worksheet1B) Step2 MonthlyExpenses BeforeReduction AdjustedAmount Housing mortgageorrentpayment $ $ Utilities electric,gas,water,phone,cellphone $ $ Food athomeandaway $ $ Transportation gas,carrepairs $ S MedicalCare doctor,dentist,hospital,prescriptions $ $ CreditandLoanPayments loans,health,car,property $ $ HouseholdOperationsandMaintenance repairs,cleaning $ $ supplies,etc. ClothingandPersonalCare clothes,laundry,toiletries, haircuts,etc. $ $ EducationandRecreation movierentals,vacations,cable, schoolsupplies Childcareandallowances $ $ Miscellaneous $ $ Savingsand/orfundssetasideforseasonalandoccasional $ $ expenses.seeworksheet2 B.TotalMonthlyExpenses $ $ Remember,notallyourexpensesaremonthly.Propertytaxes,insurancepremiumsand holidaygiftscomeonceortwiceayear.it seasytoforgetandthennothavethemoneyto payforthem.worksheet2, OccasionalandSeasonalExpenses, canhelpyouidentifyand anticipatetheseexpenses.youwillneedtosetasidesomemoneyinyourmonthly spendingplantomeettheseoccasionalcosts.youwillneedtocompletethisworksheet beforeyoucanfinishworksheet1b. $ $ 4

5 OccasionalandSeasonalExpenses(Worksheet2) Somebigexpenseslikepropertytaxes(carandlandifnotincludedinthepayment),licenseplatesandcar inspections,anddifferenttypesofinsurancepremiumscomeuponlyonceortwiceayear.othersareseasonal, suchasschoolclothesinthefallandholidaygiftsindecemberandspecialholidaymeals.someexpenses,like gifts,happenmoreoftenbutnoteverymonth.usethischarttohelpyouestimatetheseexpensesandinclude theminyourspendingplan.totalalltheexpenses,divideby12,andputthatamountintherowbeforetotal MonthlyExpenses.Forexample,ifyourexpensesaddto$480,then480/12=$40.Youwouldenter$40inthe rowbeforetotalexpenses. Worksheet2 ExpenseAmount January July February August March September April October May November June December 5

6 Step3 BalanceIncomeandExpenses Addupyouradjustedexpensesandcomparethetotaltoyourcurrentincome.When yourincomeisreduced,itmaybeverydifficulttostaywithinyourincome.whatcan youdoifyourexpensesaregreaterthanyourincome? Cutbackonspending.SeePublication inthisseries, Spending Less, forsuggestions,particularlyforreducingflexibleexpenses. Increaseyourincome.Whatarethepossibilitiesforpart timeortemporaryworktohelpsupplement yourincomeduringthisperiodofunemployment?useyournon dollarresources. Lookatyourassets.Whatsavings,investmentsorpropertydoyouhavethatcouldbeusedorconverted tocashtomeetexpenses?keepinmindthatborrowingandusingsavingsmaybeonlytemporary solutions. Reduceyourfixedexpenses.Iftoomuchofyourincomeisgoingtofixedexpensessuchashousingor debtpayments,theremaynotbeenoughmoneylefttocoveryourotherlivingexpenses.youmayneed torefinanceyourloans,movetolower costhousing,orsurrenderthepropertytoyourcreditortoget outfromundersomeofyourdebt. Step3 BalanceIncomeandExpenses TotalMonthlyIncome(1A) TotalMonthlyExpenses(1B) TotalMonthlyIncome(1A)shouldbethesameas TotalMonthlyExpenses(1B) MakingYourSpendingPlanWork Onceyouhaveaspendingplanthatsetsspendingamountsforessentialfamilyneedsandbalancesyour spendingwithyourincome,you llhavetosticktoit.writingitdownisnotenough.youmustusetheplanto guideyourspending. Keeptrackofyourspendingtobesureyoudon texceedthespendingamountsyousetinyourspendingplan. Keeparecordofwhatyouspendineachexpensecategorytobesureyoudon texceedtheamountonyour spendingplan.bykeepingtrackofwhatyouhavespent,it seasiertocontrolyourspendingandlivewithinyour income. ManagingonaSeasonalorIrregularIncome Ifyouareself employed,seasonallyemployedorreceiveincomefromtipsorcommissions,yourfamilyincome maychangealotfrommonthtomonth.inthatcase,lookaheadandcarefullyestimateyourincome.itmaybe helpfultoestimateyourincomeforawholeyearsoyoucanseewhenandhowmuchitchanges. 6

7 Eventhoughyourincomemaychangefromonemonthtothenext,manyofyourlivingexpensesarethesame eachmonth.thismismatchofincomeandexpensescreatesuncertaintythatcancausefeelingsofinsecurityand increasefamilytension. Reducethisuncertaintybyestablishingamonthlyfamilylivingallowance.Useexpensesyouidentifiedaspartof yourspendingplantodetermineyourmonthlylivingallowance,orwhatitcostsyourfamilytoliveeachmonth. Whenyoureceiveincome,depositamajorportionofitinaspecialsavingsormoneymarketaccountwhereit willearninterestbutstillbereadilyavailable.then,payyourselfeachmonthbywithdrawingtheamountof yourfamilylivingallowanceandputtingitintoyourcheckingaccounttopayyourbills.avoidthetemptationto spendmoremoneyinthemonthswhenyourincomeisgreater. Asafamilyonaseasonalorirregularincome,youmaywanttoschedulesomemajorexpensessuchasinsurance premiums,clothingpurchases,andnon emergencymedicalanddentalcaretocoincidewithtimesofmore income. Summary Livingonareducedincomemaybetemporaryorprolonged.Gettingthemostfromyourincomeduringthis timerequirescarefulplanningandwisespendingdecisions. References Boelter,Linda. SettingSpendingPriorities. CooperativeExtension,UniversityofWisconsin Extension TexasAgriculturalExtensionService. CopingwithUnemployment Wilhelm,M.S.,D.R.Iams,andC.A.Ridley. ChangesinConsumptionManagementDuringUnemploymentandTheirImpactonEconomic Satisfaction. UniversityofArizona OriginalbyIreneLeech,ExtensionSpecialist,ConsumerEducation,VirginiaTech,withtheassistanceofDonCloud. Reviewers: CristinSprenger,ExtensionAgent,FamilyandConsumerSciences,AugustaCounty KimberlyCardwell,ExtensionAgent,FamilyandConsumerSciences,SpotsylvaniaCounty 7