Thinking about a budget may seem unpleasant, especially if you're like most people – you don't have a lot of extra money at the end of each month. When money is tight, having a budget might seem unnecessary – or downright scary! But think of it this way: the whole point of a budget is to take care of things you have to pay for, like housing and transportation, so you have money left for the things you really want.

In the past few years, the cost of health care has been rising much faster than the cost of food, cars, and even gasoline. And employers are requiring employees to pick up more of the cost. If you're already feeling the squeeze, take a look at what health care could do to your family budget in just five years…



That's why getting a realistic estimate of your health care expenses can help you keep the entire family budget in line – and maybe even give you some ideas on how to reduce your health care costs.