Money & Budgeting

Do these actions in order

1. ACTION 1Pick one calendar month. Write the money you expect to receive in that month. Take-home or net pay is what remains after deductions; gross pay is the amount before deductions. Use the amount you can actually spend.
   I’m stuck — help with this action

   Your next small step

   Pick one calendar month. Write the money you expect to receive in that month. Take-home or net pay is what remains after deductions; gross pay is the amount before deductions. Use the amount you can actually spend.

   Get ready

   For job income, look in your employer’s payroll portal under “Pay” or “Payslips”. For spending, use your bank’s official app or site under “Transactions”, “Activity”, or “Statements”.

   • A recent payslip, known allowance, or other confirmed money coming in.
   • Recent account activity, receipts, and bills you are responsible for.
   • Paper or a simple spreadsheet and a calculator. Estimates can be labeled as estimates.

   Make it manageable

   1. Find the office, website, document, or person named above.
   2. Work on this one action. If it needs a response, write down who you contacted and when.
   3. Check the result below before checking off the action. Pause and ask if a requirement is unclear.

   What finished looks like

   You have a dated list of expected money coming in, with uncertain amounts labeled.

   Words explained

   “Requirement” means something you must provide or do. “Deadline” means the last date or time to complete it. “Follow up” means checking what happens next after your first contact.

   What you can say

   Which money is confirmed and which is only possible?

   Choose a call or message script

   Where to get more help

   If there is not enough for essentials, contact the school’s basic-needs or student-support office, a local assistance service, and relevant bill providers. Explain the actual gap and ask what help or arrangements exist. If you cannot understand a statement, ask the provider to explain one line at a time.

   Monthly budget worksheet (U.S. CFPB, PDF) · Use your own take-home income and costs; label amounts you still need to confirm.

   Find recurring charges you may have missed · Check monthly and annual renewals before deciding how much money is available.

2. ACTION 2If you cannot find a payslip, ask payroll: “Where can I view the record explaining my pay?” If you are paid in cash, record the date and amount when you receive it.
   I’m stuck — help with this action

   Your next small step

   If you cannot find a payslip, ask payroll: “Where can I view the record explaining my pay?” If you are paid in cash, record the date and amount when you receive it.

   Get ready

   For job income, look in your employer’s payroll portal under “Pay” or “Payslips”. For spending, use your bank’s official app or site under “Transactions”, “Activity”, or “Statements”.

   • A recent payslip, known allowance, or other confirmed money coming in.
   • Recent account activity, receipts, and bills you are responsible for.
   • Paper or a simple spreadsheet and a calculator. Estimates can be labeled as estimates.

   Make it manageable

   1. Find the office, website, document, or person named above.
   2. Work on this one action. If it needs a response, write down who you contacted and when.
   3. Check the result below before checking off the action. Pause and ask if a requirement is unclear.

   What finished looks like

   You have a dated list of expected money coming in, with uncertain amounts labeled.

   Words explained

   “Requirement” means something you must provide or do. “Deadline” means the last date or time to complete it. “Follow up” means checking what happens next after your first contact.

   What you can say

   Which money is confirmed and which is only possible?

   Choose a call or message script

   Where to get more help

   If there is not enough for essentials, contact the school’s basic-needs or student-support office, a local assistance service, and relevant bill providers. Explain the actual gap and ask what help or arrangements exist. If you cannot understand a statement, ask the provider to explain one line at a time.

   Monthly budget worksheet (U.S. CFPB, PDF) · Use your own take-home income and costs; label amounts you still need to confirm.

   Find recurring charges you may have missed · Check monthly and annual renewals before deciding how much money is available.

3. ACTION 3If pay varies, look at several recent pay periods and plan around a cautious amount you have a reasonable basis to expect. Keep extra or uncertain money separate. Do not count a credit limit as income.
   I’m stuck — help with this action

   Your next small step

   If pay varies, look at several recent pay periods and plan around a cautious amount you have a reasonable basis to expect. Keep extra or uncertain money separate. Do not count a credit limit as income.

   Get ready

   For job income, look in your employer’s payroll portal under “Pay” or “Payslips”. For spending, use your bank’s official app or site under “Transactions”, “Activity”, or “Statements”.

   • A recent payslip, known allowance, or other confirmed money coming in.
   • Recent account activity, receipts, and bills you are responsible for.
   • Paper or a simple spreadsheet and a calculator. Estimates can be labeled as estimates.

   Make it manageable

   1. Find the office, website, document, or person named above.
   2. Work on this one action. If it needs a response, write down who you contacted and when.
   3. Check the result below before checking off the action. Pause and ask if a requirement is unclear.

   What finished looks like

   You have a dated list of expected money coming in, with uncertain amounts labeled.

   Words explained

   “Requirement” means something you must provide or do. “Deadline” means the last date or time to complete it. “Follow up” means checking what happens next after your first contact.

   What you can say

   Which money is confirmed and which is only possible?

   Choose a call or message script

   Where to get more help

   If there is not enough for essentials, contact the school’s basic-needs or student-support office, a local assistance service, and relevant bill providers. Explain the actual gap and ask what help or arrangements exist. If you cannot understand a statement, ask the provider to explain one line at a time.

   Monthly budget worksheet (U.S. CFPB, PDF) · Use your own take-home income and costs; label amounts you still need to confirm.

   Find recurring charges you may have missed · Check monthly and annual renewals before deciding how much money is available.

4. ACTION 4Write dates as well as amounts. Twice a month and every two weeks are different schedules. Count the paydays in the particular month you are planning rather than assuming they are identical.
   I’m stuck — help with this action

   Your next small step

   Write dates as well as amounts. Twice a month and every two weeks are different schedules. Count the paydays in the particular month you are planning rather than assuming they are identical.

   Get ready

   For job income, look in your employer’s payroll portal under “Pay” or “Payslips”. For spending, use your bank’s official app or site under “Transactions”, “Activity”, or “Statements”.

   • A recent payslip, known allowance, or other confirmed money coming in.
   • Recent account activity, receipts, and bills you are responsible for.
   • Paper or a simple spreadsheet and a calculator. Estimates can be labeled as estimates.

   Make it manageable

   1. Find the office, website, document, or person named above.
   2. Work on this one action. If it needs a response, write down who you contacted and when.
   3. Check the result below before checking off the action. Pause and ask if a requirement is unclear.

   What finished looks like

   You have a dated list of expected money coming in, with uncertain amounts labeled.

   Words explained

   “Requirement” means something you must provide or do. “Deadline” means the last date or time to complete it. “Follow up” means checking what happens next after your first contact.

   What you can say

   Which money is confirmed and which is only possible?

   Choose a call or message script

   Where to get more help

   If there is not enough for essentials, contact the school’s basic-needs or student-support office, a local assistance service, and relevant bill providers. Explain the actual gap and ask what help or arrangements exist. If you cannot understand a statement, ask the provider to explain one line at a time.

   Monthly budget worksheet (U.S. CFPB, PDF) · Use your own take-home income and costs; label amounts you still need to confirm.

   Find recurring charges you may have missed · Check monthly and annual renewals before deciding how much money is available.

You are ready to move on whenYou have a dated list of expected money coming in, with uncertain amounts labeled.