What to Include in a Budget

You should list all your income, including:

• Your wage or salary
• Money you earn from extra jobs
• Rental Money (if you have a property that you rent out)

You should list your expenses, including:

• Rent or Board
• Household Maintenance (fixing up your home or saving for home repairs)
• Utilities (Electricity, Water, Rates and so on)
• Telephone Bills
• Vehicle Loan
• Vehicle Maintenance
• Petrol
• Transport Costs (if you have no car)
• Groceries
• Clothing
• Domestic Employees (maid, gardener, handyman)
• Medical Aid
• Insurance
• Shop Charge Cards
• Credit Cards
• Personal Loans
• Debit Orders/ Stop Orders
• School Fees
• Entertainment

You should also list any savings plan that you already have, or include a plan to save a certain amount every month. You can start very small, but try to put that money into your savings before you spend any other money.

If your expenses add up to more than your income, you have a problem and you need to find ways to cut down on your expenses.