Do you need help with how to prepare a budget? Most of us don’t want to admit it, but we do need help. Here is a budget that I set up for myself that will give you a good idea of how to prepare a budget.

Expenses

Rent – $450 per month due on the 5th of each month

Car payment – $139 every two weeks or $295 per month

Electric bill – $40 a month (roughly) due on the 19th of every month

Gas bill – $59 a month (roughly) due on the 14th of each month

Car insurance – $158 a month due on the 20th of every month

Health insurance – $50 a month due on the 1st of every month

Gas – $55 a week or $240 a month

Food – $35 a week or $152 a month

Cable bill (including internet) – $80 a month due on the 25th of every month

Child Support – $75 a week or $325 a month

Car repairs – $50 a month

Oil changes – $10 a month

Haircut – $25 a month

Entertainment – $150 a month

Savings – $166 a month

Tithing $250

Now since I am a server and bartender I make cash on a regular basis and it is a bit hard for me to predict how much I am going to make each time I work. This budget is set up on a $2,500 take home income. This is considered a low income month for me and my bills that I have to estimate are high estimations.

This allows for some extra at the end of the month so that I can save more money and maybe buy something nice for myself. I stick to this with discipline and I use a system of envelopes. I have a bad habit of spending money if I know I have it so what I do is I allow myself a spending amount each week for little things.

This is usually around $15. Then, every night when I get home from work I take what I have earned and I put it into envelopes. I have one for each category. At the end of the week I make adjustments if I made more than planned for that week. Usually these adjustments are paying off a bill sooner than needed or saving more money.

By doing this I am able to stay within my budget and cover myself if a bad week does come into effect.

Now if you get paid by check, then you will have a much better idea of what you are going to make. I suggest that you set up your budget based on your average work week, if you don’t get 40 hours, and if you work overtime only ever budget for 40 hours. Treat overtime as extra and save some of it, use some for entertainment, and save some more.

Preparing a budget is not hard, but you will have to be disciplined to stick to it. Learn how to prepare a budget and you will be very happy you did.

One of the most important things that should be done for ensuring that the car engine lasts long is to check the oil level. It is the oil that keeps the car running and without it a car can be driven for even three miles. Most of the garages will check your car’s engine oil for free or at a minimal cost but the good thing is that it can also be done personally at a regular basis. There is no need to worry because it is really very easy to check the oil level of a car. Following are the simple and easy steps for doing this.

Things Needed
-  Engine Oil
-  Funnel
-  Old rag or some pieces of newspaper

Procedure
1. Before the oil is checked, the car has to be parked at a leveled surface so that the oil will remain level enough for getting an accurate reading on the dip stick.

First, the bonnet has to be opened using the release catch under the dashboard which is mostly on the driver’s side or sometimes on the passenger’s side or the latch below the bonnet can be squeezed.

2.

The engine has to be warmed and then it has to be cooled for 20 – 30 minutes so the oil will seep back into the sump. This will help in ensuring that the reading is more accurate. It should be remembered that this has to be very carefully done because the engine will still be hot for a couple of more hours.

3. Next, the dip stick has to be found which is usually a long piece of metal with a holder that sticks out of the car engine. It normally has a loop on its end that can be yellow or red in color. ‘OIL’ is labeled on some of them and are at the engine’s front side.

4. Once the dip stick has been found, it has to be pulled by putting the finger through the loop. The place from where it is removed should be noted so that it can be returned especially if it is your first time. The dipstick is to be cleaned with the rag of pieces of newspaper for removing all the oil traces.

5. Once the dip stick has been cleaned, it has to be put back in to the hole from where it was removed.

6. Now, the dipstick has to be pulled out while making sure that it does not touch come in contact with the tube or engine because this would affect the reading. There are two lines at the top of the stick and on the edge which represent the maximum and minimum points. The ideal oil level is between the two lines. It will not be a problem if it is higher unless it does not rise above the maximum line. If the level is slightly lower, then oil would have to be added. Before adding oil, the dipstick should be put back in. It should be made sure that the engine must not be overfilled because it can get messy.

Some helpful tips
If the car has been driven, then it should be left for about an hour so that the engine and other parts can cool down for avoiding any risk of injury before checking the oil level.

Checking a car engine’s oil level is not very difficult and these simple steps are easy to follow.