how do I make a budget to save money for my family we are on ssi ?
826790
First you need to stay strong and focused.  That is very important.  Second, you need to buy a small notebook and write down every penny you spend.  You need to have it on paper so you can see where your money is going.  In most cases you will be able to find places you could cut.  Keep records for a week or two and then sit down with family and decide what wasnt necessary to spend.  After that you will have an idea of how much you spent on groceries, bills, etc.  That next week take your income and subtract what you will need for living expenses, down to the penny, and put the rest away in a savings account.  Even if its not much, it will start adding up.  Good luck.
213592
The first thing you need to create is a budget.\n\nWrite down the diferent  categories of spending starting form the essentials to the non essentials, like this\n\nRent/housing $\nUtilities Electricity\nUtilities Water\nPhone/Cellular\n\nFood/groceries\nCleaning supplies\n\nCar payment\nCar insurance\nCar gas\n\nOther living essentials\n\nThen go to the non essentials like;\nCable\neating out\nmovies\nmagazines\netc.\n\nWrite down what you spend for 2 months, then you will know where the money is going. From here decide how much you want to put into each category, like;\n\nSavings $20.00 per week\nClothing $20.00 per week\nAuto repair $10 per week\nand so on, add your own categories as needed then put money into that account and when you have enough for what you want to purchase go and get it. \n\nThis way you will have teken care of the priority payments and then know how much you can afford to play with.\n\nGood luck
251363
You need to go to the Department of Human Services (formally Family Independence Agency) and fill out an application.  They want to know how much $$ you have made this month and are planning to make.
665444
to do a budget you need to look at all of your outgoing expenses.... \n\nRent-----\n\nElectric ---\n\nGas ----\n\nPhone -----\n\nGroceries ----\n\nChild Care ----\n\nInternet Service  ---\n\nCar Payment -----\n\nCar Insurance----\n\nCredit Cards -----\n\nMedical Insurance ---\n\nExpected Monthly Medical Expenses ----\n\nSavings ----\n\n~~if you need more help than this click on my avatar, and either IM me or e-mail me with a place where i could send an attachment, i have a sample budget form i could send you.~~
301807
Are you near retirement for SS (62-65)?\n\nOr are you trying for SS disability benefits?\n\nIf you are trying for SSI then the following information may help:\n\nUnder SSI, income includes cash, checks, and other things you get\nthat can be used for food, clothing, or shelter. It even includes\nitems you wouldn't have to report for federal, state, or local\nincome taxes. Following are examples of income. \n\n* Wages from your job, whether in cash or another form; \n* Net earnings from your business if you're self-employed; \n* The value of food, shelter, or clothing that someone gives you,\n  or the amount of money they give you to help pay for them; \n* Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits;\n* Railroad retirement and railroad unemployment benefits;\n* Annuities, pensions from any government or private source,      \n  workers' compensation, unemployment insurance benefits, black   \n  lung benefits, and Social Security benefits; \n* Prizes, settlements, and awards, including court-ordered\n  awards; \n* Proceeds of life insurance policies; \n* Gifts and contributions; \n* Support and alimony payments; \n* Inheritances in cash or property; \n* Interest earned, including interest on savings, checking, and   \n  other accounts; \n* Rental income; \n* Strike pay and other benefits from unions.\n\nThe following items are not income. \n\n* Medical care and services; \n* Social services; \n* Receipts from the sale, exchange, or replacement of things you\n  own;\n* Income tax refunds; \n* Earned Income Tax Credit payments; \n* Payments made by life or disability insurance on charge\n  accounts or other credit accounts; \n* Proceeds of a loan; \n* Bills paid by someone else for things other than food,\n  clothing, or shelter;\n* Replacement of lost or stolen income; \n* Weatherization assistance.\n\nI left a resource link below.\n\nJeff\nhttp://www.Effective-Resume-Writing.com
767822
I agree with what several answerers commented: make mommy-in-law pay 1/3 of the mortgage and bills if everything is supposed to be equal. If she were on her own she would be responsible for 100% of her own expenses - therefore this is a great set-up for her. \n\nHe sounds very selfish and/or uneducated. If his mother isn't insisting on covering a portion of the expenses (medications, groceries, rent, utilities, etc.) she is nothing but a leach. He may be a predator and his mommy dearest may be his partner in crime. If I were to try to bring my mother to live with me she would absolutely refuse unless I agreed to let her handle some of the expenses. My dad is the same way - he carries his own weight and would want to make sure he did his part. It's all in how you are brought up, dear. I would never feel comfortable in a situation like yours - his mother is a bigger priority than you are. I'm not sure how old she is but if she is drawing social security, a pension, public assistance, or whatever she could still have a life of her own, unless she is an invalid or has debilatating health problems. She could move in with a widowed friend and have someone her own age to converse with and do things with.\n\nThe only time I ever paid a portion of the house payment was when I made more than my husband did. We sat down, made a budget, and figured out where monies were to be allocated. I was the saver and he was a spender so I kept a separate savings account that I had money automatically deducted out of my check for. If we needed to draw on that money for emergencies or special expenses we did so only after discussing it. It was never a control thing - it was just a smart thing to do in this day and age. We both agreed that it was smart for me to have my own account (we also had a joint account) once he started earning more than I did, just in case something were ever to happen to him. I also built up credit in my own name - it's just an intelligent thing to do in case anything were to happen to him and I was on my own.\n\nAnother point to ponder in your relationship (you may want to bring this up now before you have a mortgage payment) is what happens if you decide to get (or accidently become) pregnant? What if, for some unforeseen reason, you are unable to work? What about child care expenses, etc.? Kids aren't cheap. Is he going to be able to handle all of your joint expenses alone, if need be? When my husband wanted me to quit my job after I was diagnosed with breast cancer, we agreed that he would pay for 100% of everything for several months while my checks went into savings, just to make sure we could make it on just 1 paycheck.\n\nThere are always options - you just have to consider them.
529922
I would say, first, create a budget.  Outline what cash inflows you will have, and what expenses you expect to incur.  Doing this will help you save for what you know is coming, and be better prepared to adjust, should something unexpected come along.\n\nOtherwise, you might be interested in setting up an IRA. (individual retirement account)  There are many kinds, and you choose the one that's right for you.  IRA's are a good way to set aside money for retirement; they are also treated very favorably by the tax codes!\n\nOh, and Use something like a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, it helps you stay organized and can be adjusted, saved, and can do a lot of the adding/subtracting stuff for you.\n\nSimple answer for a simple sounding question... anything specific?
193873
Start by making a budget and stick to it you can not save money by accident you must do it on purpose. I think the best way to start is in a book written by Dave Ramsey called Financial Peace. He has written several books but that is the first and very good "More than enough" is his second book and very good also if you like the first. His books are available in any book store and many library's. Good luck to you.
939765
I guess I might start by both of us setting down and take a look at what is going out in bill's 1st for the month.\n Then look at what is left over after bill's food gas for work --Then add up your pay coming into the home each week then add that up to see what you have now deducted the over all bill's from that ---That is what you have left to play with or save.Now this is where each of you need to see what each of you may spend with whats left over.And if there is not enough to shop that week or every 2 weeks just don't do it !\nIt takes a lot of disciplined as you know since you are the Strict Budget one.\nBut yes I would set down in a loving way and talk it out.\nYou sound like a sweet husband.trying to fix something before it gets out of hand.
921246
Estimate $10,000 for taxes, first of all. (I think if you get it all at once, you're in something like a 50% tax bracket that year?)\n\n1. Get out of debt completely -- consolidation loan, student loans, car. (about 24,000)\n\n2. Buy a house and furnish it. \n\n3. Buy my mother a house. \n\n4. Go on a huge shopping spree and buy out Barnes and Nobel and Best Buy. \n\n5. Send $1,000,000 to my sister, who just had her 2nd baby and is going a bit nuts. \n\n6. Donate $1,000,000 each to the Road Home (homeless assistance), my favorite environmental charity, and my favorite religious charity. (Hey, $3,000,000 tax write-off, too.)\n\n7. Max out my 401k for this year (15,000)\n\n8. Start an IRA and max that out. ($4000, I think)\n\n9. Invest 25% of the rest in the stock market.\n\n10. Put $50,000 aside for an emergency fund. \n\n11. Put the rest into savings.
66736
You need a budget.  Prior to every month, plan a budget based on all income for the month.  Assign every dollar you'll be getting to an expense or savings.  Then stick to the budget.  If something unexpected comes up (car repair, medical bill) then revisit and adjust the budget prior to spending the money.  Never spend money not planned for with the budget.\n\nGet an emergency fund to handle small emergencies, pay off any debt you owe, and follow the budget.  You'll be saving in no time.
536968
That is a more complicated question than you can imagine.\n\nIt depends on multiple factors. \n\n1. have you reached normal retirement age? If not, the amount you can earn is less than if you have.\n\n2. you do not loose all of you SSI, if you earn money. Only a percentage.\n\nTo make a long story short, if you have reached normal retirement age, your benefits will not be reduced. If you have not, then are are limits and your benefits are reduced above a limit of $12,480 in an amount of $1 for each $2 you earn above the minimum. \n\nBut!! There is also the question of income taxes to consider. You must pay income taxes on your SS benefit, if your income is above a certain amount. I believe the amount was $44,000 in 2005 for a married couple. That include income normally tax exempt. \n\nThat is the story as I understand it. The government has a habit of making the rules almost totally incomprehensible.
396756
device a budget for yourself and make it something you can stick to.  make a commitment to save at least 10-15% of you paycheck each pay period and make sure you do it.  if you can manage to stick to that it'll get easier to not spend all of your money unwisely.
490576
Disability is critical to protect the income stream of the any income earner.  Not just to protect the loss of income to the family, but also to cover the living and medical expenses of the disabled.\n\nHowever, you need to evaluate the policy.  $250/month sounds like a lot, but it might be because you're getting a high coverage.  Generally, you should insure about 2/3 of your current income.  Because the benefit will not be taxable if you pay the premium using after-tax dollars.\n\n- Does the policy cover own occupation or any occupation?  Get one policy that at least cover own occupation for the first several years of disability.\n\n- Does the policy pay up to age 65, or for a duration like 5 to 10 years?  The longer the payment, the higher the premium.\n\n- Is there a social security income rider? The premium will be cheaper with this rider since the insurance will work in conjunction with the SSI not in addition.\n\nIt's true that group policies are much cheaper than individual ones.  However, those policies will cease when your husband leaves work or is laid off.  It's still wise to own your own disability policy.  But if the job is relative secure, you might opt for a smaller coverage on your individual disability policy which will bring the premium down.\n\nAlso, if you pay the premium annually or quarterly, it's always cheaper than paying monthly.
957406
I have said this to many others..........................why dont you plan ahead?\n\nTake in some ironing for extra cash to buy ur kids a present. There is work out there for those who are willing!\n\nPut things on layaway/layby, pay them off.\n\nI am a single mum of 2 aswell,  and i also have a child with a disability, I know it can be tough, but all you need to do is plan, its not like Christmas is a surprise, its the same time EVERY year.
584608
Budget Creation 101\n\nGet a sheet of paper and list all your income on it at the top.\n\nThis is the order you will pay you bills in:\n\nNecessary expenses.  Shelter (mortgage/rent, utilities - electric, gas water - NOT cell phone, cable/satellite, internet), food (not fast food or restaurant food), clothing, transportation (gas, insurance - NOT auto loan), and savings for emergencies.  If you are here and have run out of money, you need to get another/better job.\n\nAfter this, discretionary spending.  Cable/satellite, internet, cell phone, fast food/restaurants, life insurance (necessary if you have dependents), auto maint (oil changes, registration), home repair/maint (if you own).  If you get to here and run out of money, it's time to start cutting things.\n\nFinally, debt.  Credit cards, student loans, auto loan.  List each loan separately from lowest balance to highest, including what the minimum payments are.  If you get to this point and run out, you either need to decrease some discretionary expenses or come up with more money (2nd job, yard sale or eBay, or sell the car and buy a cheaper one then use the 'profit' to pay debt).\n\nIf you don't tell your money where to go, it will still go.\n\nFor some sample budgets, check out Dave Ramsey's website.
839951
Budget, Budget, Budget.  You need to sit down and write up a budget.  If it ain't on the list and isn't absolutely required then it ain't gettin' done.  As you get used to this each pay period you'll get better at listing everything and estimating bills.  As you go through the month you'll be surprised at how much you'll be tempted to spend on non-requirements.  Make sure you factor in entertainment and food into your budget.  Budget is not a dirty word.  After you do it a few times you'll see it's not a burden.  BTW, get rid of that car or pay if off ASAP.  Alot of people retire poor because they always have a car payment.