The 2011 fiscal year budget process is a complex web of (mainly) mandatory untouchable entitlement spending woven with discretionary initiatives converging to show where our leaders hope to direct our behavior.  From research to healthcare to defense and education, with political philosophy's aside, the direction of our country's resources is an important thing to understand.  

Where is the government's money coming from?
Where is it going? and why?
How does this process work and who influences it?

To help us find the answers to these questions I have assembled a collection of high quality and interactive graphics and visualizations from credible media sources.  I encourage you to click through to a few of these, play around with them, and understand more about how your government spends your money.



The Federal budget process [highly recommended]
Interactivity: Yes


Obama's fiscal 2011 Budget proposal: How it is spent.
Interactivity: Yes



Visualizations of receipts & outlays, deficit forecasts, cash flows, defense & Medicare, and by agency.
Interactivity: Some



Budget forecasts, compared with reality
Interactivity: Yes



Death & Taxes 2010: representational graph and poster of the federal budget.
Interactivity: No
Source: WallStats



Taking apart the federal budget
Interactivity: Some



Still want to learn more?
Take a look at our continuing project to understand and take action on the growing and potentially life altering national debt.




Wikinvest Wire

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Our current list of goals as we discover what it means to be wealthy, abandon the deferred life plan, and work to design a fulfilling and sustainable life.

  • Emergency fund of 6-9 months living expenses. Accomplished: June '08

  • Save for a down payment on a house. Accomplished! May '09 Holy moley, we bought a house!
  • When we started this blog we set a goal to have a party on the date we crossed over to zero net worth. We made it! January 6th, 2010!
  • 100% debt free.
    We know the normal thinking about low interest student loan and mortgage debt, but just think how weird would it be to be debt free. How many unique things could we do with little or no major financial obligations and no payments. Gets the mind working, huh?
  • PhotobucketThanks to your support we have been able to provide over $553 in microloans and charitable donations helping to share some of the many opportunities we have with others who may just need a little boost.

    Help spread opportunity today: We suggest visiting Kiva.org, Serve.gov or Points of Light to find a local volunteer organization.

    current sponsored entrepreneurs at Kiva:

    Here is a map of where they are.