how do i make a budget?

Question

is there a website or some free software that has a budget i can set up, and fill in every week, so that i can track where my money is going?

any advice! thanks!

Answer 1

You could make a data sheet - up on Excel with one column for the type of bill and across the top put the months - as simple as that :o) Save it each month and just go back into it the next month. Plus - Excel adds columns and everything - just read about it in the help section or online at microsoft.com.

Answer 2

Bankrate.com
Saving when you're barely surviving
Monday August 28, 6:00 am ET
Don Taylor
Dear Dr. Don,
I am a husband and father of two young toddlers. My net pay is just enough to scrape by every two weeks. With health insurance premiums well over $400 per month, my net pay is only enough to cover the bills. Every time I set aside money, I end up having to use it all for some unforeseen expenditure, and then some with credit cards (whose balances continue to escalate). Where does one in my situation begin to save?
-- Underfunded Mike

Dear Mike,
Your question is one of the more difficult issues in personal finance. How do you work toward the future when you're having trouble getting through the week?
The key is to keep spending less than income. Easier said than done, but that doesn't mean it doesn't need to be done. Spiraling credit card balances aren't the answer. Credit cards just postpone the problem and have you spending money on finance charges that should be going toward meeting your family's needs.
Differentiate between what's necessary and what's nice in your monthly spending. Cutting out cell phones (or alternatively land lines), cable TV, dinners out, etc. brings down your monthly nut. Bankrate has a budget work sheet that you can download to put together a monthly spending plan. Talk to your employer's personnel department to see if there are ways of reducing the health-care costs while keeping family coverage. Taking advantage of flexible spending accounts to pay for medical costs with pretax dollars is one possible way of accomplishing this goal.
The other side of the equation is to increase income. Take a second job, or a third. Don't think of it as forever, just until you can get the credit card balances down and build a bit of a cash cushion. If your wife doesn't work, perhaps she should. Bankrate's "Should my spouse work, too?" calculator will help with that math.
The answers aren't easy, but you've got to ramp up income, throttle back on spending or both to get to the point where you move past paycheck-to-paycheck living and get to the point where your income is also building toward your family's future.
If you've worked through all this and still can't see a way, it's time to ask for help. Your state government might be able to help with health-care insurance for the children, for example. A Bankrate feature, "Finding help in hard times," has some other ideas, too.
To ask a question of Dr. Don, go to the "Ask the Experts" page, and select one of these topics: "financing a home," "saving & investing" or "money."

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Answer 3

You wright down in one column all your financial commitments, Total it . In another you put down your income from all sources, total that, The rest is yours for the lifestyle you have. Once the bills are paid you alter the lifestyle to suit the money you have. Birthdays, holidays need planing for, so plan ahead for next years holiday now and add a monthly amount to your financial commitment side. It really is as easy as that. Sticking to a budget is far harder than making it up so good luck .

Answer 4

I'm practicing this theory. Divide your income into 3 parts.

1/3 for savings
1/3 for expenses
1/3 for emergency

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Answer 5

Microsoft works has a program on it for budgets. If you don't have MW, I'd suggest setting your own budget up on excel!

Answer 6

you can make your own budget sheet
list all of your bills, expenses, insurance.recreations....[on one side of sheet]
and make a column for the amounts owed, a column for amounts paid, [also include savings as a bill and then copy the form and use one sheet each week

Answer 7

You should check out http://www.nationwidebillrelief.com/budgetworksheets.html and
http://www.nationwidebillrelief.com/budgetcalculator.html this website is packed with free budgeting tools, tips and articles.

Answer 8

Your best budget planner is in your brain if you want to be realsitic with yourself and your income....

Answer 9

Visit http://www.mymoney.com and start there. Lots of help and advice.