The grocery cart costs more
The same grocery and household list is running about $140 over plan. The family needs a response that can work beyond this week.
🔥 1 wkLV 1
LAB 3 · COST-OF-LIVING STRESS TEST
THE EXPENSIVE
MONTH.
Guide a fictional two-income household through five familiar cost pressures. There is no perfect month—only tradeoffs that affect cash, savings, and debt.
OPENING HOUSEHOLD$6,100 take-home income$640 checking margin after the opening plan$2,400 emergency savings$3,900 credit-card balance
CHECKING$640SAVINGS$2,400CARD BALANCE$3,900DECISIONS0/5
LIVE LEDGER8 entries
DAYTRANSACTIONACCOUNTAMOUNTRUNNING CHECKING
1Two paychecksIncomeChecking+$6,100$6,100
2RentHousingChecking−$2,150$3,950
3Car payments, fuel, and transitTransportationChecking−$1,080$2,870
4Utilities, insurance, phone, and internetHousehold billsChecking−$760$2,110
5Debt minimumsDebtChecking−$410$1,700
6Groceries and essentialsGroceriesChecking−$760$940
7Savings transferSavingsChecking−$300$640
7Transfer receivedSavingsSavings+$300—