Are your finances keeping you up at night? You\u2019re not alone. Almost three-quarters of adults say money has them feeling stressed, according to the American Psychological Association. That\u2019s not surprising, especially in today\u2019s economy with skyrocketing energy and food costs, tepid investment performance, and rising unemployment rates.<\/p>\n
The remedy? Tackle that tension with a budget. If the mere mention of the \u201cB\u201d word raises your blood pressure, take a deep breath and consider this: Budgeting<\/a> is simply a way to make sure you have enough money to reach your goals.<\/p>\n A budget isn\u2019t constricting. It sets you free. When you have a plan, know how much money you have and where it\u2019s going, you don\u2019t have to worry about it. Knowledge really is power.<\/p>\n Here are the five basic steps to building a budget that will put your mind at ease. It\u2019ll take a bit of time and effort, but it\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n Before you can make a plan, you need to know how much money you have and where you spend it.<\/p>\n For at least one month, track all your expenses. And not just the biggies like your rent payment and grocery bill. Make a note of smaller purchases, too, especially cash purchases that may not show up on your bank or credit card statement. You can carry a small notebook to jot them down, or collect all your receipts and toss them in a shoebox to sort through once a week.<\/p>\n You should also make note of large annual expenses, even if they don\u2019t happen to fall in the month you\u2019re tracking. For example, if you usually pay $600 every six months for car insurance, jot down $100 this month for that cost.<\/p>\n At the end of the month, examine your spending habits and look for red flags. Organizing your purchases into categories\u2014such as housing, transportation, clothing, entertainment, food, dining out, etc.\u2014will help.<\/p>\n This exercise can be eye opening. You may find that you are spending almost as much on \u201cquick trips\u201d to the grocery store each month, for example, as on your main weekly shopping trip. You may discover you\u2019ve been spending too much time at the coffee shop, or that you didn\u2019t save a single penny for a rainy day.<\/p>\n (Or you may find that your finances are doing just fine and that you had no reason to worry. Good for you.)<\/p>\n What are your financial goals? Perhaps you\u2019d like to get out of debt, buy a new car, take a vacation or simply stop living paycheck to paycheck. If you have a specific goal, you know there will be a reward for taking the time to create\u2014and follow\u2014a budget.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t so painful when you stay focused on your goal. Look at the problem areas you identified in step two and find ways to fix them. For example, if you found that dining out was eating away too much money, take your lunch to work instead of eating at restaurants. That act alone could save about $100 a month.<\/p>\n That\u2019s money you can use to pay down debt, save toward something you want, or use as a cushion for rising gas and food costs. Almost everyone has fat they can cut from their spending. See Save Money on Practically Everything<\/a> for simple ways to trim thousands of dollars of dollars on food, utilities, entertainment, investing and more.<\/p>\n One problem you may need to address: You simply need more money. Start by checking your tax withholding. If you receive a tax refund every year (and most of you do), file a new W-4 form with your employer to get you more money each month instead of in one big chunk when you file your tax return.<\/p>\n If your expenses and goals dramatically exceed your income, you may need to take more drastic action. For example, getting a part-time job on nights or weekends, selling your car and using public transportation, getting a roommate to cover housing costs, moving to a cheaper city, or even moving back in with Mom and Dad. Again, remind yourself of your goal to motivate yourself to do the right thing. Sacrifices today can add up to big rewards tomorrow.<\/p>\n There\u2019s more than one way to budget. Some people choose to do all their spending with a debit card so they can monitor their spending through their online bank statements. Others go the opposite route and stick strictly with cash. They put fixed amounts of money into envelopes for each spending category, and when the money\u2019s gone for the month, no more spending.<\/p>\nTake inventory<\/h2>\n
Make a diagnosis<\/h2>\n
Keep your eyes on the prize<\/h2>\n
Cut costs and boost income<\/h2>\n
Stick with the plan<\/h2>\n