GET A LIFE Budget Project

Are you ready for the real world?

What are you doing NOW to prepare for TOMORROW?  

Think about your WANTS and your NEEDS and get excited - this is your life to live!

Complete the steps listed below to see if you are ready to move out and live on your own.  

Directions: To make this as realistic as possible, choose 1 of 2 options:

• Option 1 - Create a budget as if you were moving out immediately after high school, getting a job and supporting yourself (choose a job accordingly).
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• Option 2 - Create a budget as if you just accepted a position in your desired profession after attending college or a trade school.

1. Include a Cover sheet with your name, project title, and class number. (i.e. 1201)

2.  Choose a Career and Determine Your Income

Use the links listed below to gather information about a career that most interests you and then complete the "Get a Life" worksheet.

Pick one: 

I do not know what I want to be when I grow-up.  -- find a career here.

I know what I want to be when I grow-up.  -- enter your chosen career in the search box.

Starting Salaries 

Get a Life - complete worksheet and print when finished.

3.  Breakdown Your Budget

Open the link to the budgeting spreadsheet to estimate expenses for your proposed budget; use income based on your chosen career from Step 1.  The right side of the page will give you directions for the spreadsheet - do not spend more than you earn and make this as realistic as possible.  Use the average percentages as a guide and just adjust accordingly if you need to stray from the normal amounts.  Nobody can tell you how you have to spend your money (except the government)... but I will not allow you to go into debt.

Working Budget Spreadsheet 

4.  Find a Home

Assume that you will be living in New York City.  Use the list of websites below to help you find a place to live.  If you cannot afford the apartment of your choice, roommates are always an option (you will need to adjust your spreadsheet so that you only pay your portion).  Print a copy of the apartment page that details the specification for your new home.

Trulia

StreetEasy

Craigslist NY Real Estate

New York Times Real Estate

5.  Analyze Your Budget

Is it all falling into place just yet?  Let's double check a few things and make sure you are ready for the real world.

Analysis of My Budget - complete worksheet and print when finished.

6a. Write a 1-2 page TYPED rationale explaining how you determined your budget.

• How did you decide where you were going to live? 

• How did you calculate how you would budget your monthly income? (i.e. "I decided to save $150 every month in case of an emergency or if I got sick..."                          
• Do you have roommates? Why or Why Not?                      

6b. Write a 2-4 page TYPED reflection answering the following questions:

• Do you feel that this project was valuable to you?
• How can this project help you in the future?
• What did this project make you think about while you were working on it?
• Do you feel that you will be financially responsible in the future? How?

7.  Hand-in all materials to your teacher (1-6 in order):

1.  Cover Sheet With Your Name, Title, and Class # (i.e. 1201)

2.  Get a Life worksheet

3.  Budget Spreadsheet -- your packet will not be graded if you are in debt.

4.  Apartment specifics

5.  Budget analysis worksheet
6.  Rationale/Reflection (TYPED)