Review Finances and Budget

As a personal financial planning tool, a written, monthly budget allows you to plan for how you'll spend and/or save your money each month and also keep track of your spending patterns.

With a budget, you can begin to prioritize your spending and better manage your money and financia...

1. Gather Some Financial Information: gather a detailed list of your income and expenses.
2. Select a Budgeting Method: figure out how you’ll budget your money to meet your most pressing financial goals.
3. Create Your Budget: tally...

Once you have an idea of what you spend in a month, you can begin to organize your recorded expenses into a workable budget . Your budget should outline how your expenses measure up to your income—so y...