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11 Ways to Put Your Family on a Budget in the New Year

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FINANCIAL RESOLVE

New year, new opportunities: January is an excellent time to get the family finances under control. Creating and instituting a budget plan reduces financial and emotional stress and gives each family member a chance to identify goals and priorities. Start the year off right by following these 11 steps to a budget that works for your family.

CALCULATE INCOME AND EXPENSES

The first task is identifying how much money comes in and how much goes out. Record all earnings -- net of taxes, 401(k) contributions, and health insurance premiums -- on a monthly basis. Then list expenses: fixed (necessary and the same every month), variable (necessary but different every month), and wants (dispensable extras). Divide them into categories, such as utilities, housing payments, food, healthcare, and personal, and note the associated costs. If you don't know exact figures, start with estimates. Rachel Meeks, a blogger at Small Notebook, suggests thinking in terms of "planned amounts" (lowball predictions of income and rounded-up predictions of expenses). Keep track of actual spending, adjust the estimates, and soon a steady monthly budget will emerge.

SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY

Thoreau's famous exhortation from "Walden" applies to budget planning. Some advisors suggest forgoing complicated spreadsheets in favor of old-fashioned pen and paper. Others favor basic budgeting software, available from sites such as Mint.com or EveryDollar. The tool is not important; the point is to use whatever mechanism best enables your family to address household finances directly and clearly on a regular basis. Cutting up extra credit cards is another way to simplify. Doing so eliminates the danger of running up debt (and paying exorbitant interest fees) and means fewer accounts to manage.

PAY OFF DEBTS -- MAYBE

Build up savings or pay off debt first? The dilemma plagues many people and engenders debate among financial advisors. There are plenty of reasons to wipe out debt as soon as possible, including stress relief, a better credit score, and improved financial security. And because interest rates paid on debt are higher than those earned on savings, it pays to eliminate debt first. The counterarguments: An emergency fund with three to six months' income should be the top priority, eclipsing debt payoff. Then, too, additional income might be coming your way in the near future -- an inheritance, say, or a raise, or anything that means more money to work with. There's no right answer here. Assess the overall situation realistically and strive for balance.

CONSIDER THE '60 PERCENT SOLUTION'

Richard Jenkins, former editor-in-chief of MSN Money, developed the "60 percent solution," which splits a budget into five categories: 60 percent for fixed expenses, 10 percent for retirement savings, 10 percent for long-term savings (emergency fund and/or debt repayment), 10 percent for short-term expenses (regular purchases), and 10 percent for fun money. The idea is to reduce stress and excessive deliberation by allocating the same percentage every month to these broad categories. Sticking to a rigid breakdown may help mitigate the possibility of a future financial meltdown.

FACTOR IN A BUFFER

Every budget needs a buffer that's separate and distinct from an emergency fund. An emergency fund is just that -- untouched until a major emergency arises. A buffer, by contrast, allows for minor but unforeseen expenses, such broken eyeglasses, a night out to celebrate a sibling's surprise promotion, or a sudden veterinary bill. Set aside a small amount in the budget every month for the unexpected, and track these incidents. If a pattern emerges, move the expense into a regular budget category. At the end of the month, put unused buffer money into the emergency fund.

IDENTIFY 'SMART' GOALS

What do you want out of your money? A financial literacy program at Duke University identifies different types of family finance goals: long term (more than five years), midterm (one to three years), and short term (within the year). The mnemonic "SMART" indicates that each goal should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time framed. Say you want to take the family to Disneyland in two years. This goal is specific and measurable; Disney's vacation budget estimator figures the cost at $4,000, a target achievable by saving $167 a month for the next 24 months. It's relevant if children will be old enough to enjoy the experience two years hence, the set time frame. Download the free SMART worksheet from Duke to get started.

PAY CASH

Both common sense and research findings suggest that paying cash makes people more conscious of every dollar spent, which in turn leads to less spending. Some thrifty consumers use envelopes of cash allocated to particular expense categories. Once an envelope is empty, no more purchases of that type until the following month.

DISCUSS THE BUDGET REGULARLY

All adult members of the household should meet on a regular basis -- biweekly or once a month -- to assess the state of the budget. Review expenses, both planned and actual, and check bank and credit account transactions for fraud and excessive spending. Make sure all bills are paid before their due dates; paying all at one time (if possible) minimizes the chance that something will be overlooked. If billing cycles are helter-skelter, ask providers about changing the schedule so that monthly bills come due at once.

INVOLVE THE KIDS

Give older children and teens a head start on money management by involving them in budget meetings. They will see adults modeling smart financial behavior and quickly understand the "time equals money" equation. Point out, for instance, that earning $10 an hour babysitting means 12 hours of work to earn a $120 bicycle. Likewise, they'll see that earnings must cover necessities, obligations, and savings before "wants" can be satisfied.

SAVE FOR A DREAM

Having a specific long-term goal in mind, be it a vacation or major purchase, can help motivate planning and budgeting. Big dreams also put small purchases into perspective. Even a few dollars a day adds up quickly and keeps moving you farther from that dream of buying a car or house. Get into the habit of asking yourself something like, "Do I want a new shirt today or a trip to Spain next summer?" This can help you identify your priorities and budget accordingly.

LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, live within your family's means. That requires more money coming in than going out; the budgeting exercise is all about finding and maintaining a stable financial balance. Ignore the Joneses and cut back on luxuries, eschew debt, and forgo useless stuff -- a resolution for the family to live by in the new year.

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