Budget Method Matchmaker Usage Guide | Scribe

    Budget Method Matchmaker Usage Guide

    • Megan Valentine |
    • 30 steps |
    • 3 minutes
    1
    Download your matchmake template at <https://www.etsy.com/listing/1702496297/budget-method-matchmaker-budget-planner>
    2
    Double-click here to remind yourself when you last updated your planner.
    3
    Choose today's date.
    4
    Click here to provide your custom categories.
    5
    Enter as many categories as you want. Note that the first 10 categories you provide will be utilized for your envelopes if you decide that the "envelope budget method" is your perfect match.
    6
    Click here to provide your expected income sources.
    7
    Click here to provide the frequency that you expect to receive that income.
    8
    Click here to provide the amount you expect to receive monthly from that income source. If you receive that income on a monthly basis, this will be simple to provide. For our example of "other income" that is received annually, we will divide the amount we receive every year by 12 to understand how much of that to budget for each month. In our example we show that we receive $50 monthly from "other income", which is paid annually. This means that we receive a single payment of $600 once per year.
    9
    Click here to begin providing your expected expenses. This table is for your expected needs. Needs are anything you need to survive and anything that will get you into trouble if you don't pay like utilities bills, rent, and insurance payments. Note that this list should not include any debt payments other than mortgage payments.
    10
    Check this box if that expense is variable. This means you do not pay the exact same amount each month. Oftentimes utilities are variable because the amount you pay is dependent on the amount of that utility that you use.
    11
    Click here to provide the frequency you pay for this expense.
    12
    Click here to select the category from the dropdown menu that this expense should be assigned to. This dropdown menu includes all of the categories that you have provided in the category table. If you do not see a category here that you need, please head back over to the category table and type it in there.
    13
    Click here and provide the amount that you pay for this expense each month. If it is a variable expense, provide the average of the amount you paid over the last 3 months.
    14
    Click here to provide the expected amounts you will spend on wants. If it's not a need, a debt payment, or an amount you are putting into a savings or investment account, then it is a want.
    15
    Check this box if the amount you pay for this expense each month varies.
    16
    Provide the how often you pay for this expense here.
    17
    Select your category to assign this expense to here. If you do not see the category you need listed, head back over to your expense table and type it in there.
    18
    Provide the amount you pay for this expense each month here. If it is a variable expense, take the average of the amounts you paid over the last 3 months.
    19
    Provide the names of all of your savings accounts here, including investment accounts, and any other accounts you contribute to with your take home pay.
    20
    Provide the amount you contribute to these accounts each month here. If you contribute less often then monthly, find you monthly contribution equivalent. For example, if you contribute $1200 each year, your monthly equivalent contribution is $1200 divided by 12 months, so $100 per month.