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Project Portfolio: Financial Awareness
When deciding to live independently you need to consider all costs that make up a budget. Food budgeting is a necessary part of becoming independent. Cars and other forms of transportation are costly but essential. Understanding the true cost of renting a place independently and understanding actual take home income versus gross income will help ensure you do not spend money that you do not have. Living with your family and living all by yourself is like living on two different planets. While living on your own is scary, you can develop life skills, time management, and responsibility, which can take you to the next stage of life.
Budgeting for groceries is necessary to keep my overall budget in check. The national average for groceries is $151.00 weekly or $604.00 monthly. My daily meal plan was over budget, and it is important for me to focus on what I can afford. If I calculate 10-15% of my income for groceries it should be within my budget. It is essential to stay on budget when living independent or you could go into debt. Shopping for groceries can take time at first, comparing the best deals or buying in bulk can really keep my expenses down and help keep my overall budget on track. This will also help allow extra money for public transportation and save for purchasing a vehicle of my own.
Purchasing a vehicle will require research that will fit within my budget. I am yearning for a Jeep Wrangler X. The 2011 has the amazing style that I desire, and I believe it would complement my astounding, unique style. The total cost of $13,950.00 with a down payment of $6,000.00 making the car payment $198.00 monthly. The vehicle payment and insurance are within budget, however, maintenance, gas, and repairs for this vehicle could end up over budget. After researching the cost of owning this vehicle, purchasing this vehicle would not be reasonable for me at this time. In conclusion it would be more beneficial to purchase a reasonable vehicle with the money I save of $6000.00 while living with my parents. It is possible to buy a vehicle for $5000.00 and save the additional $1,000.00 for any emergency repairs and avoid car payments.
Housing costs are an expenditure you must include in your budget. Would love to live in Oceanside, CA., by the sea and to be able to walk around in my bathing suit whenever I want too! I would choose a studio apartment which has one room, so the bedroom is in the same room as the kitchen and living room, only the bathroom is separate from the living space. Deciding this will work well within my budget and I would not have to deal with roommates, and also gives me the opportunity to put away savings to eventually purchase a home of my own. Monthly payment for a studio apartment in Oceanside, CA is $1,375.00, which is a sensible cost for my current budget. Some utilities are included in rent, apart from cable $85.00, internet $60.00, and cell phone of $243.00, and these would be part of the additional cost of rent, which would total $388.00 per month, plus rent of $1,375.00 equaling a total cost of $1,763.00 a month.
My wages are a key element to my independence and are necessary for planning my budget. If I make $28.00 an hour and work 40 hours, I will make $4,480.00. After deducting taxes of $343.00, it will leave me $4,137.00. My expenses of $3,386.00 will leave a reserve of $1,094.00. To be independent, I need to be aware of your income, expenses, and reserves as I can only count on myself.
Lastly, budgeting and being independent puts me on the path to solving many of life’s financial difficulties. In researching a budget, I have found there are many next steps that I can take towards my goals. I can live within my finances or make changes to benefit me in years to come. First, I should have financial goals that I am working towards and create a plan to achieve my goals. Secondly, I can use cash only because it’s not fun owing money. Credit cards mean I am not in control of my finances and I believe there is no financial confidence in that. Thirdly, an emergency fund is essentially for me to set aside to cover any of life's unexpected events. This money will allow me to live for a few months should I happen to lose my job or if emergency funds are needed. This emergency money which I put aside will offer me easy backup funds if some unfortunate event happens to occur. In my final thoughts of living with my family or living independently it will take many adjustments and planning. Living with your parents is like living in a royal palace; you will enjoy the luxuries of an elegant house, clean laundry, and a slightly bigger budget, but you will also have to defer to the king and queen of the realm. You will quickly discover that if your sovereigns are not happy, neither are you.
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