Making a budget for home expenses is one of the first steps a new homeowner should take. While the extensive planning and budgeting for closing costs and buying the home might be over, your new financial life at home has just begun.
To help you get started, here is a basic guide to creating a budget for your home expenses:
Make note of any financial goals you hope to achieve and when. For example, you might have a goal of paying off your mortgage early, or financing a major renovation project.
Track your spending for a month to identify the details of your cash outflow. Make sure to include fixed expenses like subscription services and your monthly mortgage payment. Varied expenses, like entertainment, maintenance costs and transportation should also be included at least in estimation.
Find your exact income amount by identifying all possible sources of money. This could include regular employment as well as gains from selling or renting any assets. Use your net monthly income rather than gross monthly income to account for taxes.
To find a basic budget, simply subtract your total monthly expenses from your net income. The formula is: net income - total monthly expenses = budget.
Depending on your results, adjust your goals and habits accordingly. For example, you might want to change your spending habits or put aside more money into savings for an emergency fund.
These are only the basic first steps to creating a household budget. You can use this process as an example for building your own budget and managing your finances in your new dream home.
Buying and selling real estate isn't a do-it-yourself endeavor. You need a home pricing expert, a skilled negotiator, and someone who's been trained and inspired by the best in the business. With over 30 years of experience in both real estate and the customer service industries, Nicki truly puts her clients first.
While the Binghamton area was where she was born and raised, she knew the Capital Region was the perfect place to raise her 2 sons. Since travel sports were a large part of their lives, there isn't a town from Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, and Saratoga Counties she isn't familiar with.
Her core values in her commitment to her clients are integrity, hard work, and specialized attention to every aspect of the home buying process. She prides herself in being an innovative thinker, coming up with creative and practical solutions for her clients. Whether you are buying your first home, ready to expand, or downsizing she would love to help you reach your real estate goals! Welcome Nicki!
