Sally Herigstad, CPA

The cost of the moving truck is just the beginning. When you move, you can get hit with all kinds of other expenses, from new kitty carriers to security deposits and health club memberships. Use this worksheet to plan your move before you start packing.

Bankrate.com provides a good loan amortization calculator you can use whether you are making payments on a loan, or someone else is making payments to you. This calculator goes farther than many loan calculators by showing the interest, principal amount, and principal balance for the each year, for the entire length of the loan.

Loan amortization calculator: http://www.bankrate.com/brm/amortization-calculator.asp

Use this worksheet to list your financial assets - things you own such as your bank accounts, retirement accounts, home, and car. Don't bother listing personal items, like your dishes and your stereo, that generally don't affect your financial situation.

Use this worksheet to list the bills you need to pay. Enter each bill under Priority 1, 2, or 3. Generally, you must bills related to providing shelter, such as rent and utilities, at the top of your list. It is also very important to pay bills for expenses that allow you to keep making a living, such as car payments if you use a car to get to work.

You can generally put off paying bills for expenses that are not necessities, such as cable bills or Internet service.

Always call creditors if you cannot make the minimum payment due. They may accept a lesser amount if you ask, or they may at least make a note in your file that you expect to catch up on your payments at a later date. They are much less likely to send your account to a collection agency if you are in contact with them and are making a good faith effort to pay your bill.

Use this Budget worksheet to calculate your current and goal income and expense levels.

Use this worksheet to compare up to four transportation options, such as driving to work with your current car, taking the bus, or buying a car that gets better fuel mileage.

Use this worksheet to create a list of your debts and to sort them by interest rate. It is important to know the interest rate you pay on each debt, so you can pay down the debts with the highest interest rate first.