Does anyone know of any good resources to teach someone about budgeting?

Question

I make good money, but I honestly don't budget appropriately. I always get my bills paid, but tend to have very little left over. Are there resources available to show people how to budget?

Answer 1

Well one tip could be for you to start a savings account and "pay yourself first" meaning before you pay your bills put, say, 5% of your check away into a special account that you don't touch except for something really important to you--say a house if you don't have one, or a new car, or a special vacation trip, or a wedding. Or anything else you've been wanting that is expensive like that.

Another thing I want to say is that there are ways that you can save money on your food bill that will reduce your expenses. I've listed a website that will show you lots of guidelines how to save on groceries.

Also I've found to save on clothing, movies, cds, computer software and stuff like that it is often worth it to shop on ebay. Ebay prices are often 50% or more cheaper than regular store prices. Newer items such as movies just released this year are often harder to get for cheap prices on ebay. If you are worried about clothes not fitting right, if your area has church rummage sales, the people holding the sale will often allow you to try on clothes in the church bathrooms if you ask them. Church rummages are good sources for other things also like shoes, purses, books, just about everything.

The 2nd website is a place I found that lets you put your expenses in and calculates your budget.

Answer 2

YES!! I have read (Larry Burkett, Suze Orman, Dave Ramsey) and talked to my financial adviser and I like Dave Ramsey's budget the best. Then Larry Burkett's philosophy.

Dave is non-nonsense, straight to the point guy. He is easy to read, easy to understand. Some critics have called him too simplistic. And I know, this is why his system works! It is common sense advice. We found out that we had around $700 "extra" each month that we now budget into paying off our debt. It was very sad we couldn't account for a lot of that money each month!! Now we can and can see it working for us!

His website: www.davermasey.com (Has a simple budget form)
His books I have read: The Total Money Makeover and Financial Peace University. He is on the radio and has his program on a web-cast live 2-5pm Monday-Friday.

Other sources: Crown financial was founded by the late Larry Burkett and that website is: www.crown.org.

Answer 3

This is a must read for anyone ready to take control of their own finances:

http://money.cnn.com/pf/101/index.html

Lesson 2 is Making a Budget, but do Lesson 1 if you have time.

Answer 4

Here are a few resources I use. I got them from a finance blog I visit every now and then:

http://financialbasics.blogspot.com/2006/11/personal-budget-planning-tips.html

http://financialbasics.blogspot.com/2006/11/creating-budget.html

And this last one is a little unconventional :)

http://financialbasics.blogspot.com/2006/11/using-cash-to-stay-within-budget.html

Enjoy!

Answer 5

Are you contained in the united kingdom? (in case you position somewhat what you're searching for i will come lower back and supplies you some more effective concepts.) eBay is large. Do you've a Staples save close to you? They promote somewhat low-cost whiteboard pens, ornamental colored paper and universal good table certain. when you're searching for furnishings - like one extra e book shelf or maybe with it ought to nicely be, attempt Ikea.

Answer 6

hmm, i dont know with you but I am a collector of good reads on managing money, debt and yes credit

so far, my best resources are