First, List All of Your Income
Make sure that you cover all of the bases, not just your paycheck. If you receive a regular income from investments, alimony, child support, royalties, or retirement income, list the income you receive from those sources as well. If you have a permanent part-time job, add it to the list. With temporary jobs, sales, and freelance income, create a conservative estimate of what you can expect to make on a monthly basis. Realize, however, that you may have to change your budget if these sources of income dry up.
Next, List Your Monthly Bills
At the top of the list should come your housing payment, be it rent or mortgage. Utilities should come next. Since electricity and gas bills often fluctuate with the seasons, you need to average them to come up with a monthly estimate. Taxes, insurance payments, and other annual or semi-annual … Read the rest