Monthly Expense Worksheet
| 2008 12 30
Monthly Expense Worksheet
How do you typically spend your money? In other words, how do you live your life every
month? The following worksheet divides spending into fixed and flexible expenses:
Fixed expenses. These are expenses that you must pay regularly as part of your basic
needs. If an expense occurs every month but the amount varies from month to month,
enter a typical amount.
Flexible expenses. These are items or activities that either don’t occur every month, or
that you can control how much to spend and when to spend it.
As you complete this chart, you must decide whether each of your expenses is a “fixed
expense” or a “flexible expense.” If the expense is “fixed,” put the amount in Column A.
If the expense is “flexible,” put the amount in Column B.
Record an expense in Column A (“Fixed”) if there is no reasonable way to change
the amount you are spending for this item. One example of a fixed expense might be
your rent.
Record an expense in Column B (“Flexible”) if there’s a possibility you could
change the amount you’re spending. Movie and restaurant expenses might belong in
the “flexible” column.
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Expense Category
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Expense Item
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A
Current Fixed Expenses
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B
Current flexible Expenses
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SAMPLE
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Entertainment
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Restaurant
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$200
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Home
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Rent
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$1000
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Home
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Water/Sewer
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$50
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Housing
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Rent or Mortgage
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Maintenance or Condo Fee
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Lawn and Gardening
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House Cleaning
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Utilities
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Electric
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Gas or Oil
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Water/Sewer
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Trash Collection
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Telephone
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Internet Account
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Food
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Groceries (average)
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Restaurant
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Snacks (coffee, etc.)
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Entertaining (food and beverage
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Transportation
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Car payment or lease
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Gasoline
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Car repair or maintenance
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Bus, subway
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Medical
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Health insurance
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Prescriptions
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Out of pocket medical
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Fitness
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Appearance
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Clothing purchases
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Dry cleaning
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Hair care
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Shoe repair
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Entertainment
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Movies
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Video rental
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Cable service
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Sports fees/tickets
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Theater, concerts
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Savings
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Retirement contributions
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Savings contributions
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Emergency Fund contributions
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Debt
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Credit card payment
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Other debt
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Other
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If self-employed, business expenses
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TOTAL
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Calculate Your Total Monthly Expense:
Total from Column A (Fixed Expenses): $ _______
Total from Column B (Flexible Expenses): + $ _______
Equals Total Monthly Expenses: $ _______
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