LearnVest Classes
Getting Organized Challenge
How to Budget:
The One Number Strategy
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Resources
Non-Monthly Expenses
Take-Home Pay
Exercises
1. Record and add up your fixed costs and financial goal contributions below.
2. Record and add up your non-monthly expenses and divide by 12 to get your monthly
estimate (see below).
3. Take your monthly income and subtract your fixed costs, financial goals and non-monthly
estimate to get your flex amount today.
4. If you’d like to adjust your numbers, use the P.E.R.K. exercise (Postpone, Eliminate,
Reduce, Keep).
5. Enter your post-P.E.R.K. numbers on LearnVest.
6. Write your P.E.R.K. next steps in the last section of the worksheet.
Monthly Fixed Costs section on LearnVest
Your fixed costs are the regular expenses that you pay that don’t vary too much from month to
month. Take a moment to estimate your monthly fixed costs. Consider applying the P.E.R.K.
exercise if there are any costs you think you can bring down.
Amount
Today
Amount After
P.E.R.K.
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
Rent/mortgage payments
Utilities
Commuting or transportation costs
Gym or memberships
Cable/internet
Cell phone
Other subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, etc)
Childcare costs
Monthly insurance premiums
_______________________
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$_________
$_________
$_________ _______________________
$_________ Monthly Fixed Costs Total
Monthly Goals section on LearnVest
This category includes not only the goals that can help you with financial security—such as
retirement, an emergency fund and debt repayment—but also the big things you are saving
up for. Take a moment to estimate how much you are putting toward your goals each month.
Consider increasing your contributions with any savings that may have come from doing the
P.E.R.K. exercise in the other budget categories.
Amount
Today
Potential
Amount
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
Emergency fund contribution
Retirement contributions*
Credit card payments
Student loan payments
Buying a home
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
Monthly Financial Goals Total
*Only include contributions you make from your checking account—don’t include
contributions automatically deducted from your paycheck
Estimate Your Non-Monthly Expenses
Non-monthly payments and expenses­­—like holiday shopping, subscriptions and veterinary
bills—shouldn’t be surprises. Take a moment to estimate your non-monthly expenses.
Divide the total by 12 and consider contributing that amount into a separate “Non-Monthly
Expenses” savings account each month. To learn more, you can watch the class on
non-monthly expenses.
Non-Monthly Payments:
Amount
Today
Amount After
P.E.R.K.
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
Auto insurance premiums
Auto registration
Conference fees
Homeowners/renters insurance premiums
Life insurance premiums
Annual membership dues
Professional license fees
Real estate taxes
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$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
School or tuition expenses
Subscription services
Utility bills paid quarterly
Veterinary expenses
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
Unforeseen and “Fun” Non-Monthly Expenses:
Amount
Today
Amount After
P.E.R.K.
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
$_________
Back to school shopping
Birthday celebrations
Charitable donations
Clothing
Gadgets and new computers
Gifts
Haircuts
Hobbies
Holiday shopping
Holiday travel
Home renovations (minor)
Out-of-town visitors
Travel
Weddings
_______________________
_______________________
Total
Monthly Contribution (Total divided by 12)
Budget Today
______________ - ______________ - ______________ - _____________ = _____________
MONTHLY
TAKE-HOME
FIXED
FINANCIAL
GOALS
NON-MONTHLY
FLEX
Budget After P.E.R.K.
______________ - ______________ - ______________ - _____________ = _____________
MONTHLY
TAKE-HOME
FIXED
FINANCIAL
GOALS
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You Made It!
Next Steps to Consider:
My P.E.R.K. Next Steps
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Implementing Your Budget
Record the numbers from your worksheet in your LearnVest folders.
Link your accounts on LearnVest and start categorizing your transactions.
Set up your goals on LearnVest in the “Goals” section.
Open a second checking account, so you have one for fixed and one for flex.
Make sure your fixed and flex accounts have a buffer.
Put your bills on auto-pay from your fixed account.
Set up a weekly automatic transfer from your fixed to flex account.
Decide if you want to implement your cash-flow strategy from your flex account with
debit, cash or credit.
Work With Your Own Planner
$
You’ve earned a
2499 credit*
to get a custom program for your money,
designed by a dedicated LearnVest Planner.
*$24.99 will be credited to the cost of the set-up fee for the 5-Year Planner or the Portfolio Builder. Enter code: 67GX432UTM at checkout to
redeem. Cannot be combined with other offers.
LearnVest Planning Services is a registered investment adviser and subsidiary of LearnVest, Inc. that provides financial plans for its clients.
Information shown is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended as investment, legal or tax planning advice. Please consult a financial
adviser, attorney or tax specialist for advice specific to your financial situation. LearnVest Planning Services and any third-parties listed,
discussed, identified or otherwise appearing herein are separate and unaffiliated and are not responsible for each other’s products, services
or policies, and the references to any third-party materials are not an endorsement or recommendation of any such materials.
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