“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 (KJV)
Budgeting & Stewardship
Why Budgeting Matters
Budgeting is simply telling your money where to go before it disappears. It helps you see what is coming in,
what must be paid, what can wait, and what needs to be saved.
A budget does not have to be fancy. It just needs to be honest, written down, and checked regularly.
Start Here
Write down every source of income.
List regular bills first: rent, power, water, phone, insurance, gas, medicine, and food.
Separate needs from wants.
Give groceries a realistic amount, not a pretend amount.
Plan for small surprises so they do not wreck the whole month.
Review the budget once a week.
Basic Budget Categories
Giving / church / helping others
Housing
Utilities
Food and household supplies
Transportation and gas
Medical and medicine
Debt payments
Savings and emergency fund
Clothing and personal needs
Pets, school, family, and miscellaneous
Grocery Budget
Food is one of the easiest places to lose money and one of the best places to save money. Plan meals around what
you already have, then shop for what is missing.
Check the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry before shopping.
Plan meals around sale meat, beans, rice, potatoes, eggs, pasta, and seasonal produce.
Use leftovers on purpose.
Keep a small price book for items you buy often.
Stock up only on foods your family actually eats.
Emergency Fund
An emergency fund gives breathing room when something unexpected happens. Start small. Even a little money set aside
can help keep a problem from becoming a crisis.
First goal: $25
Next goal: $100
Next goal: $500
Next goal: $1,000
Keep emergency money separate from spending money.
Sinking Funds
A sinking fund is money saved a little at a time for something you know is coming.
Car repairs
Car tags and taxes
Christmas and birthdays
School supplies
Clothing
Pet care
Home repairs
Ways To Cut Bills
Call phone, internet, and insurance companies and ask about cheaper plans.
Cancel subscriptions you forgot about.
Use cold water laundry when possible.
Turn off lights and electronics not being used.
Cook at home more often.
Use the library, thrift stores, free groups, and Marketplace carefully.
Printable Worksheets
Open the worksheet you need. These are linked to the actual HTML pages now, so they can be printed or saved with the rest of this budgeting section.