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General Overview

Budgets allow you to live within your means.
Everyone's life style and needs are different.
This guideline is a starting place for you to consider your budgeting needs.


Housing Rent, mortgage payments, condo fees, lot rent, insurance, taxes, utilities, maintenance, and repairs 35%
Transportation Car payments, gas, insurance, maintenance and repairs, taxi/bus fare 15%
Food Groceries 15%
Medical Supplemental insurance premiums, medication, deductibles, and co-pays 20%
Miscellaneous Clothing, toiletries, other necessary items 5%
Debt Credit card payments, personal loan payments 10%


Every individual is different. Use this as a starting point for your budget.
  • Costs will vary from household to household and from budget category to budget category.
  • Senior households usually spend very little on child care, educational expenses, and saving for the future.
  • Medical expenses are generally a significant part of a senior household budget.
  • If the combination of your housing, transportation, and food expenses are more than 70% of your budget then you are unlikely to have enough income for the rest of life's necessities. Therefore it is important to cut those costs.
  • If more than 20% of your household budget goes to debt payments then you are likely to be in trouble financially. You should reduce your use of credit cards and other loan instruments.

(Source: Consumer Law Project for Elders)


Apprisen Financial Advocates - Consumer Credit Counseling Service
3560 Bridgeport Way, W., Suite 1-D
University Place, WA 98466
Call (253) 588-1858
(800) 355-2227

Pierce County Asset Building Coalition
(253) 383-3056, ext. 118

Pierce County Aging & Disability Resource Center - (253) 798-4600 or (800) 562-0332









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