May I add a couple of tips? In Excel, there is a tool that enables you to add a comment to a cell. When your mouse hovers over that cell, that comment appears. If I have an unexpected expense, I place it in a category called “Other” and add a comment justifying the expense: “New pair of false eyelashes for xyz audition,” etc.

Also, I think it’s worth noting that if it costs an individual $2000 a month to live, they do in fact need to make $15 per hour: AFTER TAXES. Too often, people calculate their income without deducting income tax, and $15 x 35hrs. is $525. Far more than $25 would be deducted from the worker’s check on a weekly basis at that pay rate.

Thanks again for this great article!

Hilariously, Miata and I taught live this past weekend and I looked down and she was holding an Apple iTouch. I said, “Ummm, Miata, what is that?”

She said, “It’s not an iPhone. It’s an iTouch.”

So it turns out we have no real credibility at all. Thanks Miata.