THE BUDGETING TOOL

At the link below, you’ll find the Budgeting Tool referenced at the end of Section 6.

This tool is part calendar, part calculator, part planner, and part spending journal. While there are many budgeting apps out there, we’ve yet to find one quite like this, which is why we’re making it available to you.

It was originally created for young earners and early-career individuals navigating tough financial realities, people living paycheck to paycheck who can’t simply follow advice like “save 20% of every paycheck.” Advice like that often comes from “experts” who haven’t had to rely on food stamps between jobs or choose between paying the power bill or buying groceries, even while working full-time. This tool is for those who want to be financially responsible but are dealing with circumstances that demand hard choices and sacrifices.

Even if your financial situation is more secure, this step-by-step, practical approach can still be valuable when you’re ready to build wealth. We encourage you to take the time to explore the tool and consider making it a regular part of your routine as you work toward a prosperous and independent future.

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Click this link to begin the download of our free Budgeting Journal Workbook tool (revised Jan 2026):

DOWNLOAD (Excel File):
Budgeting Journal Workbook (Rev. Jan 2026)

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You can also use this link to add the tool to your google-drive, so you can access your Budgeting Journal Workbook from anywhere, at anytime, and have an up-to-date file to work with:

Access a GoogleSheets Version Here

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The tool has been designed to act as a planning calendar and a spending tracker, so you can both track the money you have available, and project the amounts you’ll have available to cover your expenses in the future. Essentially, it’s a calendar with a calculator built in to project and track spending and bank account balance.

To record a purchase, simply type a negative amount into the second column of each day (Spend $47 on gas? Type in -47).

To record income or a credit, simply type in a positive amount into the second column of each day (Get a $32 refund? Type in 32).

The version of the tool at the link above really doesn’t start until late May 2023. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll find a variety of tabs. Simply select 2023 to get started. Then, scroll down to May.

Note: In setting this up, we made a few assumptions and did some actual financial projecting for you, in order to make this as useful as possible.

Here are some of the assumptions the tool begins with:

There will be $1,225 in ‘your account’ when you begin living independently.

You’ll find a ‘reasonable apartment’ / roommate situation with rent at $725/month.

You’ll find a reasonable job paying $13 an hour (perhaps something with tips), and your taxes will be deducted from your paycheck.

You’ll remain on your parents health insurance until you’re 26 years old.

You’ll be able to maintain the pretty low-standard of living we set for weekly / semi-monthly spending.

We set a tight-but-reasonable budget within those assumption, but if you’re looking forward to moving out on your own – whether or not you head off to college – you’ll need to have nearly $2,000 saved up to avoid being unable to pay bills and going into debt.

We’ll continue updating this material throughout the year and as time goes on. There’s a lot to learn about how to use this tool, how to set up future year’s sheets, and how to get the most out of what looks like a boring spreadsheet file.

If you can’t wait, please send an email to our team (mkamer@projectrealnv.org), and beg the Senior Director will set up a time to talk you through some of the features.

We’ll have more efficient and official explainers (videos and instruction manuals) up by June 30, 2026. Thank you!

-Management.

INTERNSHIPS & OPPORTUNITIES

We work to keep this space as up-to-date as possible, but please fee free to contact info@projectrealnv.org to see if there are additional opportunities we’re aware of that haven’t been posted yet.

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YouthHub via EmployNV

EmployNV Youth Hubs help young Nevadans ages 16–24 get from “I need a job” to “I’m building a career.” They connect young people with paid internships and work experience, including opportunities to earn while learning new skills, while Career Coaches can also help with job preparation, career exploration, training, college planning, and figuring out what comes next. Best of all, their services are available at no cost.

For qualifying high school seniors, their Learn-to-Earn project includes an option where you can possibly earn $500 simply for graduating high school!  That funding is very limited though and typically runs out by October each year, so don’t delay: contact them and see if you qualify today!

LEARN MORE: https://employnvyouthhub.org

ACS+Dawson: College Admissions Support

Academic Coaching Services and the Dawson College Bound program help motivated Southern Nevada students prepare for competitive college admissions with individualized college counseling, SAT/ACT/PSAT preparation, advanced-course tutoring, and help developing strong college and scholarship essays. For qualifying lower-income and first-generation students, scholarship support may also help cover these services and other college-preparation expenses.

Their Dawson College Bound scholarships are aimed at high-achieving, income-qualified Nevada students, with awards starting around $1,000–$3,000 or more depending on the opportunity. If selective colleges, honors programs, or major scholarships are on your radar, this is a resource worth exploring early.

LEARN MORE / APPLY

Summer Business Institute:
Paid Internships & Leadership Development

Clark County’s Summer Business Institute gives local high school students a chance to spend the summer getting paid while gaining real professional experience. Interns are placed in fields such as law, business, engineering, education, recreation, information technology, and communications, while also taking part in weekly workshops covering financial management, life skills, and professional development.

THIS IS MORE THAN A SKILLS-BOOSTER:
If you’ll be staying in Vegas after high school,
it’s a rare networking opportunity
that can fast-track a local career.

For 2026, SBI paid $12 per hour and was open to current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with at least a 2.0 GPA who were at least 16 by the start of the internship. Applications are competitive and can close once the applicant limit is reached, so students interested in a future summer should start watching for the application early in the year.

LEARN MORE / WATCH FOR THE NEXT APPLICATION

UNR PIGP / PACK
Paid Internships

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