Preparing a Budget

If the mention of the word 'budget' makes you groan, think of it not as some nasty chore or way to deprive yourself, but as spring-cleaning. One good financial cleaning and you may have your money life in order for years to come.

Shaping up your financial house is particularly important if your life situation is changing because of a marriage, divorce, new baby or any other event that alters your finances dramatically. Whatever the state of your financial life, developing a sensible budget will allow you to take control of your money. And, that is a great feeling.

Spending: Tracking Your Cash Flow

The core of budgeting is realizing your monthly spending needs and habits. Creating a budget means tracking your personal cash flow - that is, how much money comes in and how much goes out.

Adding up your monthly income is easy, but adding up all your spending takes a little more effort.

First, collect all your bills, your credit card statements, your checkbook register and receipts for your groceries, gas or anything else you buy with cash.

If you haven't been keeping good records, you may have to keep track of every dollar you spend for a month before you draw up an accurate budget. Track your expenses by making entries in a notebook, or use a money management program such as Quicken. Those programs make budgeting easy. They really are worth the investment and often can be found discounted at computer retailers or bookstores.

Divide your spending into fixed cost - such as mortgage payments, rent or loan payments - and variable spending, which includes categories such as clothing, food and entertainment. Although you may be able to reduce your fixed costs by, say, refinancing your mortgage to get a lower interest rate, in most cases it is much easier to trim your variable spending.

Setting Goals

Once you have a handle on your spending, you can easily determine which costs you can cut and which you cannot.

Often, as soon as you see how much you are spending on your morning cappuccino and doughnut, you will be motivated to cut back. Keep motivated by setting goals. Attempt to save a certain amount, and put your savings in a money market fund or mutual fund.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Budgeting isn't difficult, but getting started does take motivation. Promise yourself a reward for your efforts.
   
2. Gather three months of bills or, if possible, all of the past year's bills, and add up how much you spend every month. Add up your spending in categories such as housing, entertainment and food.
   
3. Take a hard look at what you can pare. Entertainment expenses are easy to slash, but utility bills are not so easy to cut. Keeping a daily journal of what you spend each day may sound obsessive, but it can be revealing. Once you know where your money goes, you can spot your mindless excesses. It is really not very hard to give up lattes or bring your lunch from home.
   
4. Pay bills as soon as they come in. Avoid wrecking your budget with late fees.
   
5. Decide what you can cut, and then cut it. Track what you are saving, and you will be pleased. Budgeting is a bit like dieting; it takes discipline, but once you get in the habit - and see the positive results - it gets much easier.