How to make a monthly budget
Build a monthly budget in six steps using take-home income, bills and savings. See a worked $4,000 table, credit card guidance and common mistakes.
Read the article →Budgeting and Personal Finance Articles
Practical guides with examples for monthly budgets, income and expenses, subscriptions, net worth, and the 50/30/20 rule.
Income and expense tracking: how to organize your table
Set up an income and expense table with dates, categories, planned amounts, actual amounts, and payment status. Avoid double-counting credit card spending.
Read the article →How to track subscription spending and renewals
Calculate monthly and annual subscription costs. Separate renewal dates, commitment expiry, and cancellation to avoid unexpected expenses in your budget.
Read the article →How to calculate net worth: assets minus liabilities
Calculate net worth by subtracting total debts from total assets. Work through a cash, investment, and loan example, then track changes consistently.
Read the article →The 50/30/20 budget rule: example and limitations
Split take-home income into needs, wants, and savings using the 50/30/20 budget rule. See a worked example and when different percentages may be appropriate.
Read the article →How to track a credit card statement in your budget
Budget without counting card purchases and the statement payment twice: treat the statement as the cash outflow and card purchases as category detail.
Read the article →How to measure your real net worth after inflation
Your net worth grew, but did your purchasing power? Calculate the real change in your net worth after inflation, step by step with an example.
Read the article →Month-end budget review: compare your plan with actual results
Review your budget at month-end: confirm payments, update balances, record the month and compare actual results with your plan.
Read the article →Should your home and car count in net worth?
Is your home part of your net worth? Learn when to include fixed assets like a home, car, or land, and how to subtract the loan still owed.
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