Financial Plan of Action: This tool has been developed by the Ministry of Social Development to aid financial goal setting. If you like this template, it can be printed and used at home or brought along to a session with a Financial Mentor.

A budget forecasts a year of spending. It includes everything, both everday expenses and occasional expenses. The goal is to have a budget that balances or has a surplus (money left over). If your budget is in deficit (not enough money), consider ways you may reduce expenses or increase income.

A cashflow is based on your budget and used to plan what you will be spending week by week. 1. Start by adding your normal expenses to the left-hand column. 2. Change the date in the Week 1 column to the beginning of the week you want to start. 3. Enter your actual bank balance (left from week prior) in the field called 'balance brought forward'. 4. Enter the income you will get this week in the 'Income' field. 5. Enter you amount you spend on each of your expenses weekly and watch as the spreadsheet calculates how much you are left with. 6. Any money left over at the end of the week stays in your bank account for the following week.