• The True Cost of Everyday Purchases
• Getting Out of Debt
• What Does it Cost to Pay Off $1000
• Budgeting
• Volunteer or Part-Time Work
• Checking Your Credit Report
• Improve your Credit
• Your Credit
• How to Find Money to Save and Invest
• Four Dumb Excuses That Keep You From Saving

Budgeting: the B Word That's Good and Good for You

Are you sitting pretty or living paycheck to paycheck? Either way, these resources may help you get a handle on where your money is going. That way, you can be sure it’s going to the things that are most important to you today – and in the long run.

Use these worksheets to track and plan your budget. You can even take them with you the next time you meet with your investment professional. Knowing the numbers may help you find the money to meet your long-term needs for retirement income.

• Spending Plan (PDF) (60 minutes) – Yes, this is budgeting, but don't get stressed out. A good budget shows how you spend your money and how much you have left over for the things that are most important to you.
• Monthly Expense Tracking (PDF) (a few minutes a day) – Using this sheet helps you track where all your money actually goes each month. It’s set up just like the Spending Plan, so it’s easy to compare what you actually spend against your plan.

Next steps

Budgeting can be an important step in finding money to invest and meet other long-term goals. Talk with your investment professional about all the things you can do now to help prepare for the retirement you want.

PDFs require Adobe^® Reader^®