It’s a new year and probably time for a new or updated budget. What do you typically use to create a budget? Is it something you will use again and again? Maybe you are looking for a new tool or worksheet to jump start the process.

Reasons to Create a New Budget this Year

You might not think you need to create another budget. Reasons to consider creating a new budget is because you got a raise or you lost income because of a layoff. Regardless of the reason why it is a good idea to update so you know what will happen with your money this year.

I admit, I am pretty lazy with it comes to making a budget. I’ve used several tools and either didn’t follow my budget religiously or I completely forgot about it. When unexpected expenses come up the budget goes out the window.

My Budgeting on a Smaller Income

I got laid off from my “regular” job in July last year, so budgeting was pared down to rent payment, utilities, phone, and groceries. I had to keep it simple to stay sane.

This year could be different so I’ve compiled a list of budget worksheets to help me and you work this thing out together. I can’t promise I’ll be good, but I’ll do my best.

7 Free Budget Worksheets

Free Home Budget Worksheet Download
This site has a list of printable budget worksheets you can download to Excel and use. If you don’t have Excel there are a couple more worksheets you can simply print out and use.

Microsoft Office Budget Templates
I think most people with Microsoft Office have used their budget templates. Just download to Excel or even Word to complete and print.

The Household Planner Free Printable Budget   
This budget worksheet has the typical elements most budget worksheets have. You have your income and expense columns as well as your categories to work with. It is a PDF file you have to download and print.

Dave Ramsey Budget Tools
Dave Ramsey has three different budget worksheets to choose from. The first is a quickie budget worksheet. The next is a Cash Flow worksheets that is more comprehensive. The last is a budget worksheet for irregular income. I think these are great options.

Basic Budgeting Worksheet
BetterBudgeting.com has a free printable worksheet to help you create a budget. It’s pretty straightforward. Like the others, you simply download and fill in your income and expenses. They also have a monthly spending worksheet to help you keep track of your expenses.

Home Budget Worksheets from CCC
These website has a budget in your pocket worksheet. It is a mini-planner you can keep in your purse or pocket for quick reference. They also have a workbook and an Excel and PDF worksheet you can download.

Practical Money Skills Budgeting
This is one of my favorite websites to learn about money. They have a simple (and colorful) one page budget worksheet. This is great for the person that is making their first attempt at budgeting or just want to move to a simpler method.

These worksheet should get you started on your budget for the year. Feel free to play with it to find the right balance. Also, think about any emergencies you think will come up and try to factor them in. It could be a flat tire, an emergency trip to see a family member, a medical expense, or anything.

Remember to Give to Get More Money

Remember to factor in giving as well. It could be your favorite charity, helping a friend, or donation to your place of worship. Regardless of how you choose to give, just get into the habit of giving. It’s one secret way the rich use to remain prosperous, plus it just feels good!

Happy budgeting!

My daughter attends a science and technology charter high school. I encouraged her to attend because she loves science and I wanted her to get important training in technology. I recognize we live in an age that will not be going away anytime soon…technology. I also recognize that technology is big business so she may as well get a piece of the pie and be set up for financial success.

The sooner she learns how to design and program for the web and other technologies the better. She will be ahead of the curve and will be able to command higher salaries in a traditional job and higher fees as a freelancer. She is currently learning web design which includes HTML, CSS, Fireworks, and Macromedia. Granted there are more advanced programs but she is getting a foundation that will take her further than if she were in a traditional high school.

Setting my kids up for financial success now is the first step in making sure they continue to live and thrive as RichSingleMomma.com’s kids!

The reality is, with traditional education too many kids will be left behind or stuck in a cycle of financial failure. Times are changing so education must change as well. As a parent, single or partnered, you can guide your child down a path of career and financial success. Where will your kids end up?

Here are a few tips to consider when thinking about your children’s education and future in our technological world.

Helpful tech training for your student may go beyond traditional classes

Discussing classic literature and solving equations are still essential components of high school curriculum, but is your child also learning HTML coding or basic computer programming? With more jobs requiring a basic understanding of technology – and an increasing number of jobs available in the field of information technology – it’s becoming more and more important for high school students to take advantage of tech training opportunities.

All computer-related fields are on track to grow faster than average projected job growth through 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For example, jobs in computer networking, systems and database administration are projected to grow by 30 percent. And jobs for computer systems analysts are projected to grow by 20 percent.

Training for tech-related jobs tends to vary by career choice, but one thing’s for sure: Whether students plan to attend college or pursue employment right out of high school, getting as much technology training as possible early on will only help their prospects.

But sometimes the necessary training may not be offered through a traditional high school curriculum, so it’s necessary for parents and students to do some homework when looking for training opportunities. “It may not always be obvious, but there are a few common places to look within your community that can help you get relevant IT training,” says Armando De La Torre, a 2011 graduate of Westwood College, which sponsors programs to send its teachers and students into urban high schools to provide computer networking training.

De La Torre, who currently works as a CSC engineer for ISC Corp., offers the following tips for high school students interested in furthering their technology training:

Innovative Programs Offered at High Schools

If your high school offers electives in computer networking or other technology training, take advantage of them. Some innovative programs may even offer college credit and computer program certification, which in some cases can lead to a job right out of high school. For example, Westwood College’s 2011-12 school year partnership with two high schools in the Denver Public Schools district and local nonprofit, KidsTek, provides students the opportunity to gain valuable technology skills and earn highly sought after IT certifications (A+, CCENT, CCNA) through the Cisco Academy Curriculum. Students who pass the courses can also earn college credit.

Opportunities with Local Businesses

Check with your high school, as well as local business associations such as the chamber of commerce, to see if there are any internships or other tech training opportunities being offered by local businesses.  Especially if you’ve already developed some relevant skills, a tech-related internship can be a great way to build your resume and get hands-on training on your way to a technology career.

Mentoring programs

Ask your teachers or a guidance counselor at your school if there are any professionals who have volunteered with the school to share their knowledge. You may be able to help someone work on a personal project they’ve been looking to tackle and receive training at the same time. Another place to inquire is with a local college, as professors and students there may be involved with mentorship programs that you can take advantage of to build your skills.

Tech-related Extracurricular Activities

Since technology comes easily to young minds, some of the best people you can learn from happen to be your peers. Talk with some of your classmates about starting an IT club (or join, if your school already has one) where you can work on projects outside of school. Many schools have also started activities like robotics programs, which can be a great way to learn while having fun with technology.

The world of technology is rapidly evolving, so learning what you can while you are in high school will help you greatly as you move on to the next phase of your life. For more information on current Westwood-sponsored tech programs for high school students, visit www.westwood.edu/community. (ARA)

This is the time of year people make resolutions. Did you do that this year? Do you fully expect to look back on the year 2012 and say, “I kept all my resolutions this year!”? How many people do you know who can actually say that?

Do you know why they fail each and every year? It’s because they do not do this one thing.

They don’t WRITE IT DOWN!

That’s correct. They do not write it down, so it does not happen.

The Power of Writing

I am a firm believer in the power of the pen.  Once it’s on paper it is final. The decision is made. There is no turning back.

To write down your resolution is to give it life.

It is a resolve to reach a goal. It is an announcement that tells the world you have something important to do for the year.

Yet millions of people forget about their resolutions after the first week because, firstly, they didn’t put any real thought into it and, secondly, they did not write it down.

Vision Boards Are The Best!

This year I did something a little different. I created a vision board and hung it on the wall facing my bed so it is the first thing I see with the morning light. I am reminded each day of the goals I plan to reach for the year.

First I wrote down my goals after thoughtful reflection. I began with the end in mind and set out to create a vision for my year.

Next, I cut out pictures and words to inspire me and help me remember my goals.

Finally, I pasted the pictures and words in a collage on a poster board.

It takes a little time to do this exercise but it is worth it. Why? Because you will have direction for the days and weeks that make up your year.

Here is a sample of a how to make a vision board

Why People (Including Single Moms) Fail Miserably

Year after year people live in depression and misery and wonder why they can’t get a break. They complain about the same things, people, and circumstances.

If you are a single mom you live with anger and resentment and worry because you don’t have enough money to put food on the table or buy your child new shoes. Or maybe you are feeling lonely and suffer in silence with a bag of chips.

The number one culprit is lack of or incorrect focus and purpose. Sure the problems are real, but when you focus on the problems, it creates more problems.

The Point of Living is Living On Purpose

What is the point of living if you do not have something to focus on? Why go on day after day doing the same things, in the same ways, yet expecting different results?

It sounds harsh but the reality is, your life will be a mirror image of last year and all it’s failures if you don’t do anything about it.

If you want love, a business, a better job, a changed life, write it down. But it is helpful to take it a step further by being specific about what you want.

This could be tricky because, too often, we don’t know what we want. But your heart knows. Listen to it and trust it to point you in the right direction.

Set S.M.A.R.T goals: Specific – Measurable – Attainable – Relevant – Time-bound, to get the best results.

Action Steps:

1. Think about your greatest desires (let your heart guide you)
2. Write them in a journal, on a sheet of paper, or in the computer
3. Create a vision board (optional)
4. Go and live your life on purpose!

Discussion Questions:

Do you make New Year’s resolutions?

Which ones did you keep the entire year?

What actions steps will you take this month to create the kind of life you want to live in 2012?

Here are this week’s Dollar Stretcher tips from DollarStretcher.com.
Bet It Still Works Today!

My mother was an excellent seamstress, and during and after WW2, she used to go to garage sales in the expensive areas of San Francisco to buy good used clothing. She then brought the items home and used the material for making my clothes. I was the best-dressed little girl in grade school, but I was dressed for pennies.
J.

Affordable Greeting Cards

My daughter loves to paint. I used to always have my daughter paint on scrap paper. Now I buy more expensive water color paper or cardstock for her to paint on. When she’s finished, I fold the paper and use it as a greeting card. The recipient always enjoys the hand-painted card, and I don’t have a million paintings around my house.
Brooks

The Christmas Calendar

One year, my husband and I were searching for a nice present for our children, but we had very little money. I came up with an idea that went over well. I went to a dollar store and bought a child-oriented calendar for each one of them. One day each month, I wrote something special down. Some examples included favorite meal night, bake your favorite cookies with mom day, and movie of your choice (at the $1 movie theater of course!). Each child had a different day of the month. It made it very special to them. They anticipated the day all month. In December, to end the year, we allowed them each to pick an extremely small Christmas tree ($5 at a local tree farm) to put in their rooms. They absolutely loved it. That was the most we paid for any of the monthly gifts. It made Christmas last all year, it was extremely inexpensive, the kids loved having their special days, and most importantly, we did not lose sight of the most important things about Christmas.
Laura

Tricky Thermostat

The thermostat for our main level is next to our laundry room. The laundry room has a double-hung window that tends to let cold air in. I sometimes find the heater going full-blast even though the rest of the house is warm and realized that the thermostat is reading the temperature from the chillier end of the house. My solution was to seal up the window with heavy-duty plastic and keep the door to that room closed. Now, we don’t overheat the rest of the house.
Viola H. in Colorado Springs, CO

Festive Nails

If you want your nails to look festive for the holidays, but don’t want to change your nail polish every time to match your outfit, and aren’t quite ready for bright red or green polish or tiny little Santas painted on your nails, try a metallic.

Choose either gold or silver polish, depending on the jewelry you tend to wear, and wear it throughout the season. It’s fun, shiny and glammed-up, but elegant and not overdone. It basically acts as a neutral that goes with anything and isn’t too much for daily wear. It’s versatile, too, as you can layer it over another color for different looks.
Diva

Frugal Tree Decorations

An inexpensive and beautiful way to decorate a Christmas tree on a budget is to buy a bag of bows. You can find large packages that include bows of all colors and sizes. No hooks are needed. The bows can be nestled in the branches because they are so lightweight. The metallic and iridescent ones reflect holiday lights the best.

Years ago, we did this as college students on a budget, and as we had more money to buy ornaments, we reused the bows on gifts. It’s amazing how pretty, sparkly, and colorful a bow-covered tree can be.
Teri K. in Laporte, Colorado

Need a Bike?

I don’t drive. For the past several years, my mode of transportation has been by bicycle. My bike was stolen. I kept checking the police station and would be shown a shed where they kept all recovered bikes.

I finally asked them what they did with the bikes that weren’t reclaimed. They told me they have a police auction twice a year and sell them there. I went to the next auction and bought a bike for $65. My kids were surprised as they said my bike was like a brand new bike and would sell for around $400.

I whiz through traffic jams, never suffer from road rage, and get my daily exercise. I can get to pretty much anywhere I want to go.
S.

Knitted and Crocheted Items

For those of us who never learned to knit or crochet, afghans and other items cost a fortune. Even the yarn is costly, according to friends who are involved in this hobby. But, I recently got a perfectly fantastic afghan lap throw for $2.50. It was at a thrift store! Many such stores sell these for well under $5 or $10, a fraction of what you’re charged elsewhere.

I found out you can wash afghans and knitted and crocheted items, and they’ll be as good as new. Instructions on how to do this are on the web. My friend who knits said that she uses double the amount of fabric softener (the real stuff, not vinegar) and pulls the item back out to its normal size before it dries. So instead of paying $50, $75, $100 or more for a knitted or crocheted throw, try thrift stores and garage sales. This is just one more example of how it pays to buy secondhand!
Lynn

Easier Silver Polishing

I picked up an interesting tip for polishing silver on a radio program. When I finally got up the nerve to try it, it worked great! Best of all, I learned that silver polish actually removes the oxidized silver from the item, leaving less silver on it. This method actually reverses the tarnishing process without removing anything.

Line a small pan with aluminum foil and then fill it with water. Bring the water to a boil, add a couple teaspoons of baking soda, and then turn off the heat. Dip your jewelry and silverware items in it for a minute and they will come out shining like new!

This method works for larger items too, but you will have to use fresh aluminum foil and add more baking soda for each item. You are using the electrons from the foil to reverse the tarnish.
Erika in NY

Want to live better on the money you already make? Visit <www.stretcher.com/index.cfm?TipsSyn> to find hundreds of articles to help you stretch your day and your dollar! Copyright 2011 Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

On the recent economic surface, when people are experiencing various financial hardships like job loss, wage reduction, and underemployment, knowing how to celebrate Christmas in a frugal way can be helpful. Almost all individuals are drowning under the sea of outstanding debt and many are enrolled in debt consolidation programs, so with tight budgets it would be nice if they can save some money and keep up the spirit of holiday.

Avoid last moment shopping:

Avoid last minute shopping because just before Christmas the prices are likely to be higher. So it is wise to shop throughout the year and pick up Christmas gifts from various stores. Pay attention to the discounts offered by the stores and to Black Friday Sales. Doing this you can save some considerable money on Christmas gifts, with which you can later on pay down your debt.

Give homemade gifts:

Make cookies, fudge, and cake in your house, wrap them in gift boxes and give to your friends and relatives. This shows how loving and caring you are towards your near and dear ones. You can also consider purchasing gifts from craft stores or dollar stores as you get them in cheaper. Along with making gifts at home, make containers as well. This will bring out your creativity and enable you to save some money.

Design Christmas cards on your own:

Be innovative and design Christmas cards on your own. Use glitter, heavy card stock paper, stickers and glue to design the cards. After Christmas is over, you may also go to Christmas sales and stock up on Christmas cards for next year.

Consider buying an artificial tree:

Buy an artificial tree rather than a real one to save some money on decoration. Go the traditional way and decorate your tree with popcorn garland and with some homemade crafts. You can also decorate the tree with pine cones from outside. Use glitter and sparkle to enhance your decoration. If you wish to decorate with some Christmas ornaments, then you must buy them from Christmas sales.

Keep an eye on food deals:

During Christmas many groceries and food stores offer discounts, so check on your local store flyers regularly during this time of year. Before you start shopping, compare the prices from one store to another in order to get things at a lower cost. Remember, one item may be cheaper at one store than it is in the other, so shop around before you start buying.

Have fun at home:

You do not have to necessarily to celebrate your Christmas by going to bars, restaurants and movie theaters. This year you can stay home and play board games or drive around town to see Christmas lights. This will be as enjoyable as going to out where you have to spend money.

In conclusion, if you follow these tips, you will be amazed to find the amount you have saved at the end of your holiday. You can then contribute all your saved money towards paying off the debt.

I love this time of year because I know I will be hearing beautiful Christmas music. Last year I tuned into Pandora.com for months on end. After a while I got a message that I had used up all my music hours and if I wanted to listen further I needed to subcribe! LOL!

Pandora.com

Pandora.com lets you listen to music from your favorite artist for free! Christmas music is no exception. My favorites are Mannheim Steamroller, Kenny G, and Nat King Cole.

GrooveShark.com and Last.Fm

Another source of free music for the holidays is GrooveShark. It’s a fairly new music website that let’s you customize your music listening experience. Tell it what you want to hear and it will serve up what you request and similar artists and music styles. Last.Fm has Christmas music by popular artists as well.

Download Free Christmas Music at Amazon.com

If you want to download Christmas music, check out Amazon.com. They have a 25 days of Christmas free music download section. Each day they feature new music for the holidays you can download for free.

AOL Music

Do you remember AOL? It was the first major internet site and the most popular in the late 90s. They are still around and they are one of the places you can find free Christmas music. Just visit their Christmas radio channel and listen to your heart is content.

FeelsLikeChristmas.com

This website offers free Christmas music downloads from a variety of artists. Check it out and start downloading.

There are a number of other free music sites to listen and download music. Search on Google or other search engine for the terms "listen to free Christmas music" or "download free Christmas music" to see what comes up.

Enjoy!

Want to live better on the money you already make? Visit http://www.stretcher.com/index.cfm?TipsSyn to find hundreds of articles to help you stretch your day and your dollar! Copyright 2011 Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Not Dead Yet!

Everyone knows that it is wise to change the batteries in smoke alarms twice a year when resetting clocks. But, why throw the batteries away? Place them in a zipper bag and label them to be used in toys only. There is usually plenty of power yet.
E.

Sink and Tub Scrub

I use my automatic dish washing detergent to clean my sinks and tub. For extra scrubbing power, I may add a bit of baking soda to it. This is much cheaper than the soft scrub products.
Teresa H. in Texarkana, AR

Cleaning Vases

If you have a vase or similar object with a very small opening, put in baking soda and then vinegar. Let this mixture sit for awhile. Then add gravel (like the very small gravel for fish tanks). Shake it, and the stains will come out. You can buy a small bag of gravel inexpensively and use it over and over for years.
Eileen

An Affordable Open House

This time of year, as well as other “occasions” of the year, I host a potluck at my home. I supply a portion of the food and beverages and everyone else brings a dish that they like. We watch old movies and pop popcorn or listen to music and visit. Most of my guests don’t bring gifts, but some do. At the end of the afternoon or evening, I send them home with cookies or leftovers. I’ve thrown myself birthday parties this way, and everyone loves it. It’s easy on my pocket book and theirs.
KPK

Banquet Servers Needed

My husband and I have found the perfect part-time job. It is flexible and pays well. We are banquet servers for the catering company at our city’s convention center. We set up, serve, buss after the meals, and tear down the job at the end of the event. We simply went to the little catering office at the convention center and submitted an application. Quarterly, we give them our availability and only work a few days a month. We are paid minimum wage plus a percentage of the job as a gratuity. We always bring home (after taxes and union fees) at least $20/hr.
Jenny

A Cozy, Warm Bed Awaits

During the cold winter months, getting into a pre-warmed bed is heavenly, but the cost to run an electric blanket can be devilish (plus, it may not be good for you). Use your blanket to pre-warm the bed, but turn it off or, better yet, unplug it once you get in. Your body heat and an additional blanket or comforter will keep the bed warm all night at a fraction of the cost.
Viola H. in Colorado Springs, CO

Free Chip Clips

When I buy a pair of pants, often the store will give me a hanger with the clip ends on it. I ask my husband to saw off the ends of the hanger (there are two), and I use them to close cereal bags, bread bags, etc. This is much cheaper than buying just a couple in the store at those high prices.
LS

Homemade Windshield De-Icer

To prevent your car’s windows/mirrors from icing up in the winter, treat the windows before you go to bed each night. The window treatment can be made up of three parts vinegar to one part water and placed in a spray bottle. This mixture will prevent ice from forming. It is important to spray all of the car’s windows and not just the windshield. You can also make a mixture using rubbing alcohol.
Marianne

Affordable Entertainment

I am a wife and a mother of two children, and we are on a tight budget. I am always looking for ways to stretch my dollars a little further. One way that helps is to look for entertainment opportunities for little to no cost. One example of this is that in our town, we have several free ski nights at our local ski area. We take advantage of this every year, and my son is able to snow board for free. My husband has also been able to volunteer at another local major ski area and get us free tickets.

Another example is volunteering at the merchant tables at concerts. I was able to be in the main area where the concert was being performed while selling merchandise and got a free concert and free merchandise. I was also able to get my children in for free! So, keep looking for promotional deals or volunteer opportunities in your area.
Lauren

Laundry Time Saver

Time is money, and it takes a lot of time to fold towels! Since we live in a two-bedroom apartment with three children, space is a valuable commodity. My husband hinted at a tip his friend’s mom used growing up and I have loved it.

I took a large, lidded trash can and placed it in my front bathroom that has very limited cabinet space. On laundry day, I toss the large- and medium-sized clean towels in the clean can (it’s never been used for trash) and only have to fold the small washcloths, which I tuck in a basket under the sink. This has saved me a lot of folding time!
Kristen F. in Texas