Module 6.11: Personal Budget Plan

Prepared on: [Date] Method: [50/30/20 / Zero-Based / Envelope / Pay Yourself First / Custom] Monthly Net Income: $X,XXX

Executive Summary

Current savings rate: X%
Target savings rate: X%
Identified monthly waste: $XXX
Top 3 categories for optimization: ...

Current Spending Overview

Category	Current Value	% Current	% Reference	Verdict
Housing	$X	X%	25-28%	✅ / ⚠️ / 🚨
...
Total Expenses	$X	XX%
Savings	$X	XX%	15-20%+

Recommended Budget (12 Months)

Monthly Allocation

Category	New Budget	Change	Rationale
Housing	$X	$0	Fixed cost
Markets	$X	-$X	Meal planning
Restaurants	$X	-$X	8x/month → 4x/month
Subscriptions	$X	-$X	Canceled: [list]
Retirement	$X	+$X	Maximum employer match
Emergency Fund	$X	+$X	Build up to 6 months
...

Sinking Funds (Annual Expenses ÷ 12)

Fund	Monthly	Annual Need
Party gifts	$50	$600
Car maintenance	$75	$900
Annual Insurance	$X	$X
Vacation	$X	$X
Home maintenance	$X	$X

Identified Waste — Cut List

#	Item	Monthly	Annual	Action
1	...	$X	$X	Cancel today
2	...	$X	$X	Negotiate to reduce
3	...	$X	$X	Switch providers
4	...	$X	$X	Reduce frequency
5	...	$X	$X	Eliminate
TOTAL		$XXX	$X,XXX

The $500 Plan (Quick Wins, Week 1)

[specific action with phone number / URL / step]
[specific action]
[specific action]
[specific action]
[specific action]

12-Month Spending Plan

Month	Income	Fixed	Variable	Savings	Sinking Funds	Notes
Jan	$X	$X	$X	$X	$X	Tax preparation
Feb	$X	$X	$X	$X	$X
Mar	$X	$X	$X	$X	$X	Q1 review
...
Ten	$X	$X	$X	$X	$X	Peak holiday season

Behavioral Triggers (For Sustainability)

Automate: Direct deposit split, automatic investment transfers
Friction: Remove saved cards from impulse-buying websites
Visibility: 10-minute weekly budget review (calendar block)
Reward: Built-in budget for "leisure" so the plan is sustainable

Tools to Use

Spending tracker: [YNAB / Monarch / Empower / spreadsheet]
Subscription auditor: Rocket Money / Bobby
High-yield savings for reserve funds: [accounts with 4%+ annual yield]

Tracking — Monthly Review Checklist

[ ] Update income (is any of it variable?)
[ ] Compare actual spending vs. budget by category
[ ] Flag overspend >10%
[ ] Replenish reserve funds
[ ] Transfer to savings/investments
[ ] Net worth check

Next Steps

Set up automated transfers this week
Cancel the 5 wasted subscriptions today
Schedule a 30-minute monthly budget review
Rerun /finance budget in 90 days to recalibrate

WARNING: For educational/informational purposes only. This is not financial advice. Consult a licensed financial advisor before making decisions.

Output Standards

All recommendations in actual dollar amounts, not just percentages
Each cut has a specific action (call X, cancel at URL Y)
The budget is sustainable, not punitive—it should include "fun money"
Account for irregular and annual expenses with sinking funds
Sustainable savings rate > unsustainable maximum savings rate

Delivery

After writing FINANCE-BUDGET.md, inform the user:

Total identified monthly savings ($XXX)
Top 3 immediate actions
Suggest follow-up: /finance debt if there are debt problems, /finance retirement if the savings rate is low

WARNING: For educational/informational purposes only. This is not financial advice. Consult a licensed financial advisor before making decisions.

--- skills/finance-portfolio/SKILL.md ---

name: finance-portfolio description: Investment Portfolio Analyzer. Audits the current allocation against the target, asset class diversification (stocks, bonds, real estate, alternatives), expense ratios, tax efficiency, rebalancing needs, factor tilts (value, momentum, quality), three-fund portfolio suitability, target-date fund analysis, and Boglehead-style optimization. Produces FINANCE-PORTFOLIO.md with a portfolio score, specific rebalancing trades, and fund swap recommendations.