Create a budget, and stick with it

I finally used my home finance organizer I got today. Made a list of my bills/expenses and created my 4 weeks of budgets. I’m going to try using the envelope method again to budget and try to be self-discplined and following it carefully. Also starting tomorrow I’m going to start keeping track of my daily expense again…

Hey just wanted to let everybody know about a book that had some really great information about creating a budget that was so simple – The Pocket Idoit’s Guide to Living on a Budget. I need to go re-read it and work on it again…

Okay I re-set up my weekly budgets for the next 5 weeks and I’m feeling alot better and more in control. Tomorrow I begin keeping track of my expenses again. :)

Went completely nuts totally ignored the budget. Week 2 was a failure for me! (See my expense journal goal…) Hopefully week 3 will be better!

@ MadamKelly – I’M SO HAPPY for you! I know it had to be so rough with your car exploding but now this can help you get back on track. Congrats!!

Okay so this is my first week of 2007 working on this goal. What I’ve done so far is since I get paid weekly I’ve been doing weekly budgets. For me right now a monthly budget is too hard to grasp. First I listed every bill or expense that I have and if it was current past or past due and how much was due. Then I made up weekly budgets for four weeks. Then the day before I get paid I reviewed that budget to see if any thing had to change or be arranged. Then as soon as I got paid I enveloped the money accordingly to expense and put the envelopes away. Then I paid what I need to pay. It worked out pretty well this week. Each Sunday I will do this redoing the 4 weeks of budgets. I know it sounds like an ardous system but for now i will stick with until I get better. Keeping an expense journal has really been an eye-opener for me. (one of my 43 things goals) its really helped keep me in check and definitely showing me where I can trim the fat. I want to get all caught up in my bills, then make sure I starting paying them on time. (There eliminating some late fees and saving money), then I would like to start saving. So I have to say so far so good to week one… :)