Actually Free Finance Kit
Part of the purpose of creating ActuallyFree.info was to show people that they can live within a budget by getting things for free. However, there are some that will never discover that unless they learn to budget in the first place.
Getting things for free can be an instant source of satisfaction. And while an instant bolt of gratification is a pleasurable experience, financial success is usually not accomplished in a get-rich-quick scheme. An important habit in money management is using consistent small amounts over a long period of time. There are many who inherit instant wealth and loose it just as quickly because they don't develop this habit. Professional athletes go broke as soon as they retire. Lottery winners and game show contestants often loose more than they win. And many rock stars and movie stars could retire off of just one gig if they didn't blow it on excessive luxuries and behaviors which are fueled by greed.
With the many expenses that can be included in a budget it helps to have tools which simplify the process. Resources for many of these tools are available for free and they are listed on the Financial Freebies page. As an added bonus to users of ActuallyFree.info, the following downloads are also available for free:
Actually Free Budget Calculator for Families and Individuals
Download this free budget worksheet to lay out your income and expenses. Embedded formulas in the worksheet can help you to automatically calculate a projected budget and year-end totals for income and charitable contributions. If you do not have Microsoft Excel, you can download free worksheet software listed on the Free Software page.
Kid's Budget
Parents, you can help children learn financial responsibility early in life. Use this simplified budget to help children learn that everything costs money. If you're children receive an allowance or earn money through chores, then you can use this budget to help them learn how to save their money and spend it wisely. The worksheet is also good for older kids and teenagers to use once they learn the habits of budgeting by themselves. The kid budget is in Microsoft Excel format. The instructions for using the Kid Budget is in PDF. Click each icon to download.
Student Budget
College is an expensive endeavor. College students can use this budget specifically designed for their college financial planning. Separate income from college savings, and prepare to pay taxes if you've started working to pay for school. (Though possibly you might be able to avoid taxes until you graduate if you stay within the income bracket;)
Debt Snowball
Gain financial freedom by getting out of debt. Use the debt snowball technique to tackle your debts one category at a time (starting with the highest interest rate first).
Emergency Preparedness