Category	Suggested Percentage	Annual Amount	Monthly Amount
Net Spendable:*		$39,400.00	$3,283.33
Housing:	36 %	14,184.00	1,182.00
Food:	12 %	4,728.00	394.00
Auto:	12 %	4,728.00	394.00
Insurance:	5 %	1,970.00	164.17
Debt:	5 %	1,970.00	164.17
Ent/ Rec:	6 %	2,364.00	197.00
Clothing:	5 %	1,970.00	164.17
Savings:	5 %	1,970.00	164.17
Med/Dental:	4 %	1,576.00	131.33
Misc:	5 %	1,970.00	164.17
School/Childcare:**	6 %	2,364.00	197.00
Investments:	5 %	1,970.00	164.17
*NSI is left after you give to the Lord and pay taxes. The NSI is what you must live on. There are three primary categories in every person's budget: Housing, Food, and Auto. If these three combined percentages exceed 70 percent of your NSI, then it will be almost impossible to have a balanced budget. The average person usually has no idea how much he or she is spending annually or monthly. The first step, then, is to track what you spend and compare it to the guidelines shown here. Only then should you begin to adjust your budget to make it balance. For some it may mean selling assets to pay down debt, and for others it may mean seeking assistance with debt reduction from a trained counselor. Still others may find that they have surpluses in areas of their budget. For them the challenge is deciding where to allocate this surplus: to retirement, college planning, or increased giving.
* The budgeting format that Larry taught for many years refers to the Net Spendable Income (NSI). ** This category is added as a guide only. If you have this expense, the percentage shown must be deducted from other budget categories. Remember, all percentages must add up to 100 percent.