28+ Sample Family Budgets

Family Budget: What Is It?

A family budget refers to the official budget worksheet meant for household expenses. For example, a parent’s income will be distributed not only for personal needs but also for the family’s meals, rentals, debts, school tuition fees, or the overall home budget. And thanks to family budget, you have an official budget planner to ensure your family stays economically stable daily, weekly, monthly, or annually.

Based on a report, over three times more working families were labeled below the basic household budget levels.

The Big Four: Categories of a Family Budget

It is known that a family budget is commonly grouped into four major categories. These are the fixed expenses, variable expenses, debts, and goals. But what exactly are they? Take a closer look at the main categories of a family budget.

Fixed Expenses: From the name itself, fixed expenses refer to products or services that cost at a fixed price. For example, your monthly car rental will cost the same if it is fixed. Anything that has a stable amount from your household budget will fall under fixed expenses.Variable Expenses: Meanwhile, the expenses that change from time to time are the variable expenses. For example, the amount stated in your electric bill and grocery receipt will not always be the same. That is when you have bought more food for the past month or if you have used more electricity during the summer for air conditioning.Debts: Without family budgeting, you might find it hard to keep track of your debts. These debts would cover credit cards, student loans, and so much more. So it is only right to manage your money wisely until every debt gets paid.Goals: It is encouraged for every family to have their set of financial goals. For example, the family might be planning for a long vacation, an emergency budget, and any other financial milestones to accomplish. Thus, create a family budget plan so those goals actually happen in reality.

How to Make an Excellent Family Budget

It is safe to say that there is no single correct way of setting a family budget. That is because household expenses and family budgeting plans differ. What works for one family might not work for another family. But if you want to increase your chances of creating family budget excellently, be sure to follow these steps:

Step 1: Review Your Family Income and Tally the Expenses

First things first, how much does your family earn per month? And are you the sole breadwinner of your family or your partner and children would also contribute to the expenses? Note them down. Be realistic with the family income so you can start estimating household budget. List all the expenses that would help the family from insurance premiums, credit cards, student loans, and more.

Step 2: Calculate and Strategize Your Net Income

After tallying all your household expenses, calculate your net income next and strategize ways on how to divide the budget appropriately. The key is to subtract the whole monthly expenses you tallied from the total of your take-home pay. If the amount is positive, then congrats—your net income shows that you spent less. Hence, the extra money can be placed under savings or to pay debts. Expect to improve your budget plans if the net income is negative. That means you eliminate certain expenses or boost your income.

Step 3: Consider Your Family’s Financial Goals

A family budget has no room for selfishness. So be sure to consider what the rest of the family members’ financial goals are. It could be about a personal project, a travel escapade, etc. You can divide them according to being a short-term goal and a long-term goal. You can even divide your family budget creatively by using a pie chart, a tabular format, and other graphical data. The key is to use visual organizers that can be understood easily by the family members.

Step 4: Figure Out Ways to Cut Back and Optimize

Every family’s weakness is to commit overspending. That can be challenging to increase savings and even finish your financial objectives. So to ensure that families become fully aware if ever their money has been spent too much or not, that is why family budget is at play. Use a family budget worksheet to tabulate all expenses spent, saved, and more. Update the details regularly until you can slowly make it easier for your family to survive financially.

FAQs

What are the main components of a family budget?

The Economic Policy Institute suggests that a family budget consists of seven main components—food, housing, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities.

What is considered the best budget management option

The highly recommended budget management options worth observing are the cash-envelope system, zero-based budget, and the 50-30-20 budget rule.

Why is a family budget important?

Family budget is essential for many reasons. And some examples are:

  • Teaches families the wise way of spending money regularly
  • Prevents debts and bankruptcy
  • Secures future expenses
  • Observes the bigger picture of every household budget in an easy worksheet
  • Keeps the family prepared for financial emergencies

You can’t deny that budgeting is a lifetime task. But when you come up with a smart strategic plan to budget what works well for you and your family, rest assured, all your efforts will pay off. Start setting up your household’s official family budget now until you slowly lessen those debts, save more money, and be financially stable for years to come.