Creating the Budget

Step one was to sit down and actually create a budget......I am backtracking a little here so you can get caught up. I sat down and created this budget about six weeks ago.

Bills:

Mortgage $1150.00
Credit card $1003-payments on 9 credit cards
Cell phones $121
Electric $87
Gas $162
Car insur $88
Trash $18
Water $30
Phone/inter $69
Auto fuel $150.00 two vehicles for the month
Grocery $300.00 Monthly-frugal shopping
Medical $125-5 doctors $50 to one and $25 monthly to the other three
Music $85-music lessons and instrument rental for 3 kids

Total outlay: $3388
Total guaranteed income: $3542

Ouch!! That leaves $154 monthly. Clothing, emergencies, field trips, car problems etc.

We are homeschoolers. We attend a homeschooling group that charges a total of $1800 a year. That is not figured into my budget above.

So that pretty much takes my income down to zero with absolutely no wiggle room.