The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Virginia
Budget Worksheet Exercise
Step 1: Make a guess/estimate of the Self-Sufficiency Wage for single-parent family with an infant and a preschooler living in your own community.
Step 2: Look at each cost category and fill in what you think are the minimum cost requirements for each basic need (do not consider public or private assistance).
Step 3: Add up costs. Multiply by 12 to get an annual wage. Divide by 2000 to get an hourly wage.
Step 4: Use The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Virginia to fill in the actual costs.
Step 5: Compare. What is most surprising? For which cost category were you closest in your estimation? For which category were you the farthest?
Estimate of hourly wage for single-parent with an infant and a preschooler in your community $____________
| Item Cost | Monthly Cost Estimate | Monthly Cost Actual* |
| Housing (rent for a 2-bedroom apartment) | ||
| Child Care (1 infant and 1 preschooler) | ||
| Food | ||
| Transportation | ||
| Health Care | ||
| Miscellaneous (telephone, clothing, etc.) | ||
| Taxes | ||
| Total | ||
| Total x 12 = Annual Wage Annual Wage / 2000 = Hourly Wage |
*Actual costs as defined in the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Virginia