 TITLE: How to Budget When You’re on a Very Low Income CONTENT: Even if you think you won't have any extra money at the end of the month, it's still important to see where that money goes.There are different budgeting strategies out there to suit different personalities, but the important thing is to just try one. Here are some basic steps to get started making a budget:\n1.  **Figure out how much money you receive each month.** Be sure to include payments from all sources, including government sources and odd jobs, as well as your regular income. (Don't include monetary gifts unless it's a recurring gift.) If your income isn't the same each month, use the past three to six months to come up with an average amount.\n2.  **Calculate your monthly expenses.** If you have a bank account, review a few months of your statement to see where your money is going. Expenses include your fixed monthly expenses (rent\/mortgage, utilities, car payment), which are things that cost the same each month, as well as variable expenses (groceries, gas), which are regular expenses that are not a set cost each month. Make sure to count any subscriptions you have, as well as discretionary spending, which can vary each month and might include clothes or birthday gift purchases. If you pay for most things in cash, gather any receipts you have and organize them by month, or start tracking your receipts now by noting your expenses in a notebook or file.\n3.  **Compare your expenses to your income.** Create a list of all your monthly expenses and compare it with how much money you bring in each month.\n4.  **Make a game plan**. Now that you have a sense of your financial picture, you can make a plan. Outline your goals and priorities, and learn strategies for how to take action. END