Personal budget help?

Question

I'm looking to discipline myself with my money, anyone know of a good, inexpensive resource to help with this?

Thanks

Answer 1

In order to get myself organized, I hid all my credit and debit cards and took out cash only once a month. Using my receipts, I kept a spending journal for 2 months (using only the cash I got at the beginning of each week) on an excel spreadsheet just so I knew where all my money was going. You would also include automated payments and regular payments like rent, mortgage, cable, phone, etc.

Once you have a handle on exactly what you are spending, you can budget what is necessary and not and what things you need to save for. Then, take your monthly income, subtract your fixed payments (rent, phone, cable, etc) and then the amount that is reasonable for expenses. Then everything left should be saved.

Answer 2

http://www.daveramsey.com and Financial Peace University are the best for putting together a complete, healthy financial plan. FPU worked wonders in my life and marriage. There are probably classes near you. The cost is somewhere around $90 - 120 for a 13 week class that lasts about 2 hours per class. If you can't afford the class, that is the first sign that you need it. I promise you that it will be worth double the price. His books also give you much of the information.

Speaking from experience, budgeting is not an easy process to get started. FPU will show you how to get started and then it is up to you to have the discipline necessary to live by it.

Answer 3

Well the common standard is to have a savings withdrawal of no less than 10% taken out before you get the cash . ( the fed and state take about 30% sooooo . . . pay your savings self at least 10 % ) .
After that , unless you already have a mortgage , select the least expensive living space that is clean (no insects or vermin ) with hot and cold running water . Then put as much into savings / investments as possible . Study the Yahoo finance investing education section about 1/2 way down on the left of the page > > >

http://finance.yahoo.com/

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Answer 4

I am trying to do the same thing.

Checkout websites:

http://www.moneyinstructor.com/budgeting.asp
http://financialplan.about.com/cs/budgeting/l/blbudget.htm