Stretch the Paycheck Kit: A Bare-Bones Budget, Bill Priority Worksheet and 30-Day Plan for a Tight Month

Who it is for

Anyone short on money this month who needs a simple plan for which bills to pay, who to call and how to spend less, with New Jersey help lines included.

Not the right fit if

You need debt negotiation or legal help with an eviction or shutoff: this is a budget plan; call the help lines it lists.

Why it is different

• Checked against consumerfinance.gov, consumer.ftc.gov and nj.gov, November 2026.
• Short and survival-focused: one month, not a full-year budget.
• Word, PDF and an Excel workbook; no income promises.

What is inside

• Start here and bare-bones budget. Money in, must-pay costs by group, and the gap, on one page.
• Bill priority worksheet. The six groups from CFPB and FTC guidance, matching the free calculator, with a fill-in table.
• Call these first contact list. What to say, a call log and New Jersey help lines checked on nj.gov.
• 30-day spending reset plan. One short step a day for four weeks, scam warning signs and a daily spending log.
• Price comparison sheet. Unit prices across up to three stores, with a checklist before buying bigger sizes.
• Bare-bones budget workbook (Excel). Budget, bill priority that pays in order and flags calls, a 30-day spending log and unit-price math.