Investing is the key to long-term financial freedom. Investing will eventually allow you to pay your expenses through the interest you earn, freeing you from the painful cycle of living paycheck-to-paycheck. Once again, think percentages so that you start investing right away. And remember, investing goes beyond just the stock market. We can show you how to best invest based on your income and family status. 

Saving is preparation for 'financial emergencies'. This is your 'rainy day', 'I lost my job', 'the car broke down', or 'we have a family emergency' fund. Continue saving until you have at least 6 months of expenses in your savings account.  

This is the amount you pay monthly to run your household. Rent/mortgage, HOA fees, utilities and cleaning supplies are common housing costs. If you have a 'pool guy', gardener or a housekeeper, these also fall within the housing category. Word of caution: this is often an area where families overspend!

Automobile expenses include any monthly car loan or lease payments as well as gas and the cost of upkeep. Estimate the annual cost of service and repairs for your vehicle(s) and divide that by 12 in order to set aside an adequate amount each month. This will help you be prepared when those unexpected repairs are necessary!

This is the amount you spend on food, including groceries and eating out at restaurants. Be sure to track this area carefully in order to get an accurate picture of how much you spend eating out, having your morning coffee or grabbing cocktails with friends. 

Medical expenses include your monthly health insurance payments and any prescription costs. If you do not have dental or vision insurance, consider setting aside a small amount monthly to prepare for future check-ups.

Taxes are often the most overlooked expense they are generally (automatically) taken our of their paycheck. However, it's important to understand taxes and what can be done to minimize tax liability. We will help you understand what you can do to be strategic about your tax expenses.

Recreation costs are all costs that are not mandatory for day to day living. Date nights, trips, movies, sports activities, gym membership; all of these are recreational costs. Your recreation budget also includes extras like your annual passes to amusement parks.

The "All Else" category is what's left that doesn't seem to fit in the priority categories above. This may include clothing, trips to the barber, baby showers/weddings, and Christmas shopping.