I use a spreadsheet I made up to list all expenses and income right down to the penny. The spreadsheet lists income, and then all expenses such as groceries, gas, each utility, eating out, prescriptions, credit card bills, miscellaneous expenses (which I describe at the bottom of spreadsheet), absolutely everything.
It is updated every couple of days and balances with my check register which is kept on an 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper. The spreadsheet shows the whole year at a glance so at the end of the year, on one sheet of paper, you have all your income and expenses, and you can see where your hard earned money has gone, as it is automatically in categories.
By Marti S. from Athens, GA
This page contains the following solutions.
When it comes to our finances, they're very abstract. Check cards and electronic bill paying don't make it much easier; the concept of exactly how much money is spent is a difficult one to grasp.
The first and most important step to setting up a budget is to find out where your money is going now. It is pointless to sit down and write out a budget with imaginary numbers such as 'Groceries - $200' when you are actually spending $400 at the moment.
Start by listing everything that you spend money on each month and how much you spend. Add up the list to get your current total budget.
Using a too hot shower as a simile for one's monthly budget, learn how you can adjust your expenditures to fit your budget rather painlessly. The following essay discusses why a budget is like a shower.
This is a page about create a budget with the envelope system. Before credit and debit cards most of people made purchases and paid bills either with cash or by check. The envelope budget system allows you to set aside money for certain expenses without the risk of running short.
This is a page about setting up a household budget. Preparing a budget can help you see how much money you need each month to cover your basic household expenses.
