Dollar Scholars Foundation

Nkowasi: Hazie, Soro, na Zọpụta · Ihe 1 nke 2

Build a Spending Plan That Fits Your Real Life

A step-by-step monthly plan for a sample DC-area household, including tips, cash work, uneven paychecks, and money sent to family.

  • Ihe dị ka nkeji 15
  • Ajụjụ: 5
  • Ikpeazụ nyochaa: Septemba 2026
  • Emeli: Money Smart for Adults, Module 3: Your Income and Expenses, and Module 4: Your Spending and Saving Plan

A sụgharịbeghị akụkụ nke nkuzi a n'asụsụ gị, n'ihi ya, a na-egosipụta ha n'asụsụ Bekee.

Na nkuzi a

Ihe ị ga-amụta

  • Build a monthly spending and saving plan from your own income and bills, step by step.
  • Plan around income that changes, such as tips, gig apps, cash work, or seasonal jobs.
  • Include money you send or give to family as a planned expense instead of a surprise.
  • Adjust the plan in a month with extra money and in a month with less.

Kedu ka nke a si jikọọ na klaasị anyị: Our class covers tracking your income and expenses and making a first spending plan. This lesson shows a full plan for a DC-area worker whose pay changes, and a simple way to plan for months with extra money and months with less.

Okwu ndị ị ga-amata

Atụmatụ mmefu ego (Spending plan)
Atụmatụ maka otu ị ga-esi jiri ego ị na-atụ anya inweta kwa ọnwa, gụnyere ụgwọ, ego, na mmefu. A na-akpọkwa ya mmefu ego.
Home Tag Onyeka Okongwu (Take-home pay)
Ego ị na-enweta mgbe ụtụ isi na mbelata ndị ọzọ na-abịa site na ụgwọ gị.
Ego na-ezighi ezi (Irregular income)
Ego na-agbanwe site n'izu ruo n'izu ma ọ bụ kwa ọnwa ruo kwa ọnwa, dị ka ndụmọdụ, ego ngwa ngwa, ọrụ ego, ma ọ bụ ọrụ oge.
Baseline ọnwa (Baseline month)
Ọnwa gị kachasị ala nke ego. Ị na-ewulite atụmatụ mmefu gị na ego a ka a wee kpuchie ụgwọ gị n'ọtụtụ ọnwa.
Ibu ọrụ (Obligation)
Ịkwụ ụgwọ ị kwere mmadụ ná nkwa, dị ka ịkwụ ụgwọ mgbazinye ego, nkwado ụmụaka, ego ị kwere ezinụlọ gị nkwa, ma ọ bụ ụtụ isi ị ga-akwụ ụgwọ.
Akaụntụ Bills (Bills account)
Akaụntụ dị iche, ma ọ bụ envelopu ma ọ bụrụ na ị na-eji ego, nke na-ejide ego naanị maka ụgwọ kwa ọnwa ruo mgbe ha ruru.
Overdraft ego (Overdraft fee)
Ego ụlọ akụ ma ọ bụ ụlọ ọrụ akwụmụgwọ nwere ike ịkwụ ụgwọ mgbe ị na-akwụ ụgwọ maka ihe nwere ego karịa ka ị nwere na akaụntụ gị.
APR (pasent kwa afọ) (APR (annual percentage rate))
Ego a na-akwụ kwa afọ, gụnyere ọmụrụ nwa na ọtụtụ ụgwọ, gosipụtara dị ka pasent.

Start with your baseline month

A spending plan shows how you will use the money you expect to get each month. The first step is to list your income and your expenses. The hard part comes when your income changes. Tips, gig apps, cash jobs, and seasonal work can make every month different.

The answer is to plan on a baseline month. This is your lowest typical month of income. It is not your best month, and it is not your average. If you plan on your average, some months will not have enough money for your bills. If you plan on your lowest typical month, your bills are covered in most months, and you decide ahead of time what to do with any extra.

  1. Find your income for the last 6 to 12 months. Use pay stubs, bank statements, earnings reports from your apps, or a notebook where you write down cash.
  2. Count only take-home pay: the money you get after taxes and other deductions.
  3. Find your lowest month. That is your baseline. If that month was very unusual (for example, you were sick for three weeks), use your second-lowest month.
  4. No records yet? Write down every dollar you get for the next four weeks, including cash. Start with that amount, and update it as you learn more.

Ihe Nlereanya

Atụmatụ Carlos maka otu ọnwa

Carlos bi na Langley Park, Maryland, ma soro nwa nwanne ya nwoke kerịta ụlọ ime ụlọ abụọ. Ọ bụ onye na-esi nri n'ụlọ oriri na ọṅụṅụ dị na Columbia Heights, na DC, a na-akwụ ya ụgwọ kwa izu abụọ. Ọ na-enwetakwa ndụmọdụ, na ngwụsị izu ọ na-ese ụlọ maka ego. Kwa ọnwa, ọ na-ezigara nne ya ego na El Salvador.

Anyị na-enye ọrụ dị ọnụ ala maka imeghe akaụntụ ụlọ akụ na Carlos.
EgoEgo
Ịkwụ ụgwọ abụọ site na ụlọ oriri na ọṅụṅụ (na-akwụ ụgwọ)$ 1,800
Ndụmọdụ (ọnwa kachasị ala)$ 300
Ego eserese ọrụ (kasị ala nkịtị ọnwa)$ 300
Basic ego$ 2,400
Carlos Nwagbara
ỤdịIhe ọ bụ makaEgo
MkpaMgbazinye ego (ọkara ya)$ 1,050
MkpaIgwe eletriki eletrik na ntanetị (ọkara ya)$ 85
MkpaNgwongwo Ngwongwo T$ 380
MkpaMetro na bọs$ 110
MkpaEkwentị$ 45
MkpaUwe, ntutu isi na ọgwụ$ 70
Ibu ọrụA na-akwụ ụgwọ maka nne gị, gbakwunyere ego a na-akwụ ụgwọ.$ 210
Ibu ọrụỊkwụ ụgwọ kaadị akwụmụgwọ$ 50
Ibu ọrụTinye ego maka ụtụ isi na ọrụ ego (20% nke $ 300)$ 60
EgoEgo mberede$ 100
EgoỤgwọ kwa afọ (mkpuchi onye na-akwụ ụgwọ, onyinye)$ 40
ChọrọNa-eri nri ma na-ekpori ndụ na ndị enyi gị.$ 130
ChọrọỌrụ gụgharia$ 15
MgbakwunyeMgbakwunye maka ihe ịtụnanya$ 55
Ngụkọta$ 2,400

$ 2,400 ego - $ 2,400 zubere = $ 0 fọdụrụ iji mee atụmatụ

Dollar ọ bụla ugbu a nwere ebe. Ego na mgbakwunye maka ihe ịtụnanya bụkwa akụkụ nke atụmatụ ahụ.

Mkpa, Ọrụ, Ego na Ọchịchọ

Ịhazi mmefu gị na-enyere gị aka ikpebi ihe ị ga-echebe na ihe ị ga-ebelata mgbe ego dị ala.

Mkpa
Ihe ị ga-ebi ma rụọ ọrụ: ụlọ, ngwa ọrụ, nri, ụzọ ị ga-esi rụọ ọrụ, ekwentị, na ọgwụ ndị bụ isi.
Ibu ọrụ
Ịkwụ ụgwọ ị kwere nkwa nye mmadụ: mgbazinye ego na kaadị akwụmụgwọ, nkwado ụmụaka, ego ị kwere ezinụlọ gị ná nkwa, na ụtụ isi ị ga-akwụ ụgwọ.
Ego
Ego maka ihe mberede, ihe mgbaru ọsọ, na ụgwọ na-abịa otu ugboro ma ọ bụ ugboro abụọ n'afọ, dị ka mkpuchi onye na-akwụ ụgwọ ma ọ bụ onyinye. Tinye ya na atụmatụ dị ka ụgwọ, yabụ na a gaghị ahapụ ya maka ikpeazụ.
Ọchịchọ
Ihe ndị na-eme ka ndụ ka mma mana ị nwere ike ime na-enweghị nwa oge: iri nri, uwe ọhụrụ, gụgharia, na njem.

Ego maka ezinụlọ bụ ọrụ. Ọ bụrụ na ezinụlọ gị na-adabere na gị kwa ọnwa, mee atụmatụ ego ahụ kwa ọnwa, otu ihe ahụ dị ka ụgwọ, ma tinye ego mbufe. Mgbe ahụ, ọ dịghị mgbe ọ bụ ihe ijuanya. Iji belata ego ahụ, tụnyere ọrụ tupu izipu ya. Lelee ihe mmụta banyere izipu ego ná mba ọzọ.

Kemgbe Jenụwarị 1, 2026, ụtụ isi gọọmentị etiti 1% na-emetụta mgbe ị na-akwụ ụgwọ maka mbufe ego na mba ọzọ na ego, usoro ego, ma ọ bụ ego ego. Na $ 200, nke ahụ bụ $ 2. Ụtụ isi anaghị emetụta mgbe ị na-akwụ ụgwọ site na ụlọ akụ ma ọ bụ akaụntụ ụlọ ọrụ kredit ma ọ bụ kaadị debit.

Ọrụ ego chọrọ akara ụtụ isi. Ọ bụrụ na ego ị na-enweta site n'ịrụ ọrụ maka onwe gị, gụnyere ọrụ ego, bụ $ 400 ma ọ bụ karịa n'otu afọ, ị na-akwụ ụgwọ ụtụ isi onwe gị nke 15.3% na ọtụtụ n'ime ha, na ụtụ isi ego nwekwara ike itinye aka. Carlos na-ewepụta 20% nke ụgwọ ego ya, mana nke ahụ bụ naanị ihe atụ. Mgbe ị na-ede, enyemaka ụtụ isi n'efu site na saịtị VITA nwere ike igosi gị ego ole ị ji ụgwọ, yabụ ị nwere ike ịhọrọ ego ka mma maka afọ ọzọ. Lee nkuzi banyere ụtụ isi maka gig na ọrụ ego.

Ihe Nlereanya

Otu ọnwa na ego ọzọ, na otu ọnwa na obere ego.

Ọ bụrụ na ego ọzọ na-abata

Carlos kpebiri tupu oge eruo ebe ego ọzọ ga-aga. N'ọnwa Ọktọba, ndụmọdụ ya bụ $ 600 na eserese kwụrụ $ 500. Nke ahụ bụ $ 500 karịa ọnwa mbụ ya.

Ebe Carlos na-etinye $ 500 nke ego ọzọ
NzọụkwụEgo
Nke mbụ: ụtụ isi na ọrụ ego ọzọ (20% nke $ 200 ọzọ)$ 40
Ego mberede (ọkara nke ihe fọdụrụnụ)$ 230
Ịkwụ ụgwọ ọzọ na kaadị akwụmụgwọ gị (otu ụzọ n'ụzọ anọ)$ 115
Chọrọ (otu ụzọ n'ụzọ anọ)$ 115
Mkpokọta ego mgbakwunye$ 500

Mgbe otu ọnwa na-eweta obere

N'ọnwa Jenụwarị, ụlọ oriri na ọṅụṅụ ahụ anaghị arụsi ọrụ ike. Ndụmọdụ bụ naanị $ 150, ọ nweghịkwa ọrụ eserese. Carlos nwere $ 450 na-erughị ọnwa mbụ ya. Ọ gbasoro atụmatụ ya, n'usoro a:

  1. Ọnụ ego maka ọnwa: $ 145.
  2. Jiri ihe mgbakwunye maka ihe ịtụnanya: $ 55.
  3. Enweghị ọrụ ego pụtara na enweghị ụtụ isi ị ga-ewepụ n'ọnwa a: $ 60.
  4. Kwụsịtụ ịchekwa maka ihe mberede na ụgwọ kwa afọ maka otu ọnwa: $ 140.
  5. Were $ 50 ikpeazụ site na akaụntụ ego gị, ma weghachite ya n'ọnwa na-esote.

$ 145 + $ 55 + $ 60 + $ 140 + $ 50 = $ 450

Carlos emetụghị mgbazinye, ngwa ọrụ, nri, ma ọ bụ ego nne ya dabere. Ọ bụrụ na ịnweghị ike ịkwụ ụgwọ zuru ezu, kpọọ ụlọ ọrụ ahụ tupu ụbọchị kwesịrị ekwesị ma jụọ maka atụmatụ ịkwụ ụgwọ.

Jiri akaụntụ ịkwụ ụgwọ mgbe ị na-akwụ ụgwọ ma na-agbada

Akaụntụ ụgwọ bụ akaụntụ nke abụọ, ma ọ bụ envelopu ma ọ bụrụ na ị na-eji ego, nke na-ejide ego naanị maka ụgwọ ndị a na-akwụ ụgwọ. Ego a na-akwụ ụgwọ bụ otu ego kwa ọnwa. Mgbe ịkwụ ụgwọ na-abata n'oge dị iche iche na ego dị iche iche, akaụntụ ụgwọ na-echekwa ego ahụ ruo ụbọchị kwesịrị ekwesị.

  1. Tinye ụgwọ gị kwa ọnwa. Maka Carlos: mgbazinye $ 1,050, ọkụ eletrik na ịntanetị $ 85, ekwentị $ 45, kaadị akwụmụgwọ $ 50, na ego maka nne ya $ 210. Ngụkọta: $ 1,440.
  2. Kewaa site na ọnụọgụ ụgwọ ị na-enweta n'ọtụtụ ọnwa. Carlos na-enweta abụọ: $ 1,440 ÷ 2 = $ 720 site na ụgwọ ọ bụla.
  3. N'ụbọchị ịkwụ ụgwọ, bufee ego ahụ na akaụntụ ụgwọ ozugbo. Ọtụtụ ụlọ akụ na ụlọ ọrụ kredit na-ahapụ gị ka ị setịpụ nke a ka ọ wee mee n'onwe ya.
  4. Na-akwụ ụgwọ naanị site na akaụntụ ụgwọ. Jiri akaụntụ gị ọzọ, gbakwunyere ndụmọdụ na ọrụ ego, maka nri, Metro, na mmefu kwa ụbọchị.
  5. Mee Starter Reserve: Gbalịa idobe otu izu ọzọ nke ego ụgwọ na akaụntụ ụgwọ.

A na-akwụ ụgwọ kwa izu abụọ? N'ọtụtụ afọ, ọnwa abụọ nwere ụbọchị ịkwụ ụgwọ atọ. Agụtala ụgwọ nke atọ na ntọala gị. Jiri ya wuo ego gị ma ọ bụ ego mberede gị.

A na-akwụ ụgwọ na ego? Debe ya ozugbo i nwere ike. Ego dị na akaụntụ mkpuchi dị nchebe karịa ego n'ụlọ, na nkwụnye ego na-enye gị ndekọ nke ego gị. Ụfọdụ ụlọ akụ na ụlọ ọrụ kredit na-emeghe akaụntụ na ITIN ma ọ bụ paspọtụ. Lelee nkuzi banyere imeghe akaụntụ akụ, ọbụlagodi na-enweghị nọmba Social Security.

Lee anya

A na-ekpuchi ya mgbe ego dị ala.

Mgbe otu ọnwa na-eweta obere, onyinye ego ngwa ngwa nwere ike ịdị ka enyemaka. Ọtụtụ n'ime ha na-enweta ego n'ọnwa na-abịa.

  • Na-eme atụmatụ ọnwa gị kachasị mma. Atụmatụ e wuru na nnukwu ọnwa na-ada n'ime ọnwa nkịtị. Jiri ntọala gị.
  • Ụgwọ overdraft. Ọ bụrụ na ị na-emefu ihe karịrị nguzozi gị, ụlọ akụ gị nwere ike ịkwụ ụgwọ maka ịzụta ọ bụla. Lelee nguzozi gị tupu ịkwụ ụgwọ, ma jụọ ụlọ akụ gị etu ụgwọ overdraft ya si arụ ọrụ.
  • Paycheck n'ihu ngwa ọdịnala. Ụfọdụ ngwa na-akwụ ụgwọ maka nnyefe ngwa ngwa ma ọ bụ rịọ maka "ndụmọdụ". Obere ụgwọ na obere ọganihu nwere ike ịdị ka APR dị elu. Ọganihu ahụ na-apụtakwa na ụgwọ gị na-esote, yabụ oge ịkwụ ụgwọ gị na-esote na-amalite na obere.
  • Mgbazinye ego n'ịntanetị DC na Maryland na-ejedebe mmasị na ọtụtụ obere mgbazinye ego, na Virginia na-egbochi ọnụahịa nke mgbazinye ego dị mkpirikpi. Ma ndị na-agbazinye ego n'ịntanetị na-enweghị ikikere ka na-enye mgbazinye ego na ụgwọ dị elu. Lee ihe mmụta banyere mgbazinye ego dị elu.

Ndụmọdụ

Nyochaa nkeji 10 kwa izu

Họrọ otu ụbọchị kwa izu, dịka ọmụmaatụ mgbede Sọnde, ma debe ihe ncheta na ekwentị gị. Lelee ihe ise ndị a:

  • Dee ego niile bịara n'izu a, gụnyere ndụmọdụ na ego.
  • Lelee ihe ị mefuru emefu. Jiri nnata, ngwa ụlọ akụ gị, ma ọ bụ akwụkwọ ndetu maka ego.
  • Tụnyere atụmatụ gị. Kedu ahịrị ndị dị n'okpuru? Kedu ihe dị n'okpuru?
  • Lelee ụgwọ ndị a ga-akwụ n'ime izu abụọ sochirinụ. Enwere ihe zuru ezu na akaụntụ ụgwọ?
  • Họrọ obere mgbanwe maka izu na-abịa, ma ọ bụrụ na ịchọrọ otu.

Atụmatụ ahụ ekwesịghị ịbụ nke zuru oke. Ihe mgbaru ọsọ bụ ịhụ nsogbu n'oge, mgbe enwere oge iji dozie ha.

Ọnụ ala dị ala na enyemaka n'efu dị gị nso

Metro Lift. Ọ bụrụ na ị nweta nri nri SNAP site na DC, Maryland, ma ọ bụ Virginia, ị nwere ike ịdebanye aha na Metro Lift ma kwụọ ụgwọ ọkara ọnụahịa maka njem Metrobus na Metrorail. Mbelata ahụ anaghị emetụta ngafe ma ọ bụ bọs mpaghara dị ka TheBus na Ride On. Ọ bụrụ na Carlos nwetara SNAP na njem ya niile dị na Metrobus na Metrorail, $ 110 kwa ọnwa nwere ike ịdaba ihe dị ka $ 55.

Nyere gị aka na atụmatụ gị. Onye nkuzi ego nwere ike inyere gị aka ịmepụta atụmatụ mbụ gị ma nọgide na-eji ya. Ndị otu mpaghara a nwere ike inyere gị aka:

  • DC, Maryland, na Virginia: Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) na-enye nkuzi ego n'efu n'otu n'otu na Bekee na Spanish. Kpọọ 202-540-7400.
  • DC: Ụlọ ọrụ gọọmentị DC nke Ikike Ego na Mmụta na-agba ọsọ mmemme agụmakwụkwọ ego, gụnyere FinancialFit DC.
  • Maryland: Mgbasa Ozi CASH nke Maryland na-ejikọ ndị bi na Maryland na nkuzi ego n'efu.
  • Northern Virginia: Britepaths na-enye ọzụzụ ego n'efu. Kpọọ 703-704-6101.

Key takeaways

  • Build your plan on your lowest typical month of income, not on your best month or your average.
  • Put money for family, savings, and taxes on cash work into the plan like bills, so they are never a surprise.
  • Decide ahead of time where extra money goes, and what you will cut first when a month brings in less.
  • A separate bills account keeps money for fixed bills safe until the due date.
  • A 10-minute check-in each week helps you find problems while there is still time to fix them.

Lelee nghọta gị

Zaa ajụjụ ndị ahụ, wee họrọ Lelee azịza m. Nweta 4 nke ikike 5 iji mezue nkuzi a. Nke a bụ omume: enweghị oge ọ bụla, anyị anaghị edebe azịza gị.

Ajụjụ 1 nke 5 Fatima na-akwọ ụgbọala maka ngwa nnyefe na DC. Mgbe ọ na-akwụ ụgwọ, ọ nwetara $ 1,900, $ 2,600, $ 2,100, $ 3,000, $ 2,000, na $ 2,400 n'ime ọnwa isii gara aga. Kedu ego ọ ga-eji mee ihe dị ka ọnwa ntọala ya?
Ajụjụ 2 nke 5 Carlos kwere nkwa iziga nne ya na El Salvador $ 200 kwa ọnwa, ọ na-adabere na ya iji kwụọ ụgwọ ụlọ ya. Ebee ka ego a dị na atụmatụ mmefu ya?
Ajụjụ 3 nke 5 Na Jenụwarị, ego Carlos na-enweta bụ $ 450 na-erughị ọnwa mbụ ya n'ihi na ụlọ oriri na ọṅụṅụ anaghị arụsi ọrụ ike. N'ịgbaso atụmatụ ya, gịnị ka ọ ga-ebu ụzọ mee?
Ajụjụ 4 nke 5 Kedu ihe kpatara Carlos ji ebugharị $ 720 site na ụgwọ ọ bụla n'ime akaụntụ ụgwọ dị iche iche n'ụbọchị ịkwụ ụgwọ?
Ajụjụ 5 nke 5 Ka e were ya na Carlos na-akwụ ụgwọ ego na ụlọ ahịa na-ebufe ego iji zigara nne ya $ 200 na El Salvador. Kemgbe Jenụwarị 1, 2026, olee ụtụ isi gọọmentị etiti na-emetụta mbufe a?

Gaa n'ihu

Ebe nrụọrụ weebụ ndị a tụkwasịrị obi ebe ị nwere ike ịmụtakwu ihe. Njikọ ndị a na-aga na weebụsaịtị ndị ọzọ nke Dollar Scholars anaghị agba ọsọ.

  • Ịmepụta mmefu ego [mèzi _ mèzi] Site

    Federal Trade Commission (consumer.gov) · Asụsụ: English

    Usoro dị mfe maka ịme mmefu ego, yana mpempe akwụkwọ mmefu ego n'efu ị nwere ike jupụta ma ọ bụ bipụta.

  • Cómo hacer un presupuesto [mèzi _ mèzi] Site

    Federal Trade Commission (consumer.gov) · Asụsụ: Español

    Otu ntuziaka ahụ n'asụsụ Spanish: Nzọụkwụ dị mfe iji mee mmefu ego, na mpempe akwụkwọ ọrụ n'efu.

  • Ego gị, ihe mgbaru ọsọ gị [mèzi _ mèzi] Site

    Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) · Asụsụ: English

    Akwụkwọ ọrụ n'efu ị nwere ike ibipụta iji soro ego na mmefu, mee atụmatụ ego, ma setịpụ kalenda ụgwọ.

  • Metro Lift belata ọnụahịa [mèzi _ mèzi] Site

    Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) · Asụsụ: English

    Kedu ka ndị mmadụ si enweta SNAP na-erite uru site na DC, Maryland, ma ọ bụ Virginia nwere ike ịdebanye aha iji kwụọ ụgwọ ọkara na njem Metrobus na Metrorail.

Ihe mmụta a bụ agụmakwụkwọ ego izugbe, ọ bụghị iwu, ụtụ isi, ma ọ bụ ndụmọdụ ego. Iwu na ego na-agbanwe, yabụ lelee nọmba dị mkpa na isi mmalite gọọmentị.