•Income sources (paycheck stubs, income tax return)

•Checkbook registers

•Credit card statements (year-end summaries)

•Money from home jobs, student loans and scholarships

•Support from family

•Add all up and divide by 12 for effective monthly income

•Fixed expenses (rent, car payments; for insurance divide the amount by appropriate number to get the monthly payment)

•Variable expenses (books, food, clothes)

•Fixed expenses + Variable expenses = Total expenses

•Effective monthly income - total monthly expenses = Bottom Line

•Control your finances

•Avoid financial troubles

•Become a smarter consumer

•Set and achieve financial goals