To Do List

If you would like to live on your own, consider the following suggestions as you begin making decisions and choices about getting your own place.

Find:

a job you like

a way to spend less than you make

affordable housing

an affordable car

a good group of friends at work, school, or church
a cause you believe in and do volunteer work
a sport or exercise you like

a discount grocery store/wholesale bread store

a few good recipes you can make yourself
a good resale shop for clothes and household items
Jesus
a church

Avoid:

                overeating (costs too much anyway) 

credit cards
runaway spending
reckless driving (tickets, DUI’s, attorney fees, higher car insurance rates, etc.)
friends who "live" in bars

expensive lifestyle habits like smoking and drinking

eating out often

friends who want to “live” off you

liars, cheats, and drama queens

Start:

                Giving 10%

                Saving 10%

                Living on the rest

                Reading your Bible daily

                Listening to wise advice

                A budget and live within your means (sample budget below)

Stop:

                Blaming others for your mistakes

                Whining

                Borrowing money from your parents

Sample Budget

$10/hour

40 hours/week

                                      Monthly Net Income    
                                      1400.00

                                      (take home pay after taxes)

Monthly Expenses

Fixed expenses

(these are the same amount each month)

          Church                                          140

Savings                                         140

Rent                                                400

          Car payment                                100

          Car insurance                                50

          Phone                                                50

          Utilities                                         100

(gas, electric, garbage removal, cable)

Flexible expenses

(these can be adjusted each month)

                 Gas for car                                    80            

                 Food                                              150

                 Entertainment                               50

                 Clothes                                            50

                 Haircuts                                          15

                 Miscellaneous                             100

(gifts, repairs, household items, etc.)

          Total                                               1425.00

You are $25.oo over budget; you need to adjust something from a flexible item. One month you could spend less on clothes, the next month spend less on miscellaneous items.