Our daily lives have become so busy that individuals and families are generally accustomed to “buying” rather than “shopping” . When we aren’t able to take the time to shop for the best value and become properly educated on our purchase, the cost is generally higher. This buying mode hasmade many of us “impulsive” spenders.

We want to help you understand your own spending habits and give you education, guidance and tools you will need to make the dream of owning your own home a reality.

Developing a Spending Plan

Do you ever wonder where all your money goes? Can you only afford the minimum payment on bills? Developing a spending plan will help you to take control of your financial future. Some of you may already be familiar with how to budget, but others may not be. A budget is simply a plan for spending and saving money. It allows you to see your total income and where that income is going.

Why Budget?

The primary purpose of a budget is to find out where your money is going and to help control spending. To see exactly how can help you do the following exercise for one week: keep track of every purchase you make for a week, along with your standard monthly bills. Once you determine where your money is going, it is easier to see where you can save and improve spending habits. Study Objective: Download the weekly spending tracking form weekly_spending to document all items you purchase, then review the spending tracking form and develop a monthly budget to minimize expenses and increase income.