If you're like me, you don't like authority. Exercise, eating veggies and limiting portion sizes to me just says do this, do this, don't do that. Blah, blah, blah. I'm grown. I didn't wait this long to get power to give it up to some plan that I have to submit to and do whatever it says. No.
But budgets are different, they seem like they are a mean parent, but they are not. With proper planning, they can be your cool Auntie that hangs out and goes with you everywhere. Let me explain.
Budgets give you a way to list all of your bills and examine your financial picture. I know it might look ugly, scary even, but it will be worth it. Sometimes doing it all at once is too much. Let's face it, it's boring and really, it feels like if you see it, you won't have any choice left in your life, especially if you already know you don't have enough to pay everything all at once.
But this is where a budget can become your buddy. By listing our expenses and when we are getting money and how much, we can plan better. We can try to eliminate waste and look at our bills to make sure we really need all the stuff we are paying for each week. We get to see how much we are short. All of this information will give us a good picture of where we can make changes or what we need to do to get to where we want to be.
Ok, now the good news. If you have an atm card, you can use a computer to use FREE websites that help you track your expenses. After the initial set up of your bills, you can keep better records so your stuff is all in order for your taxes. You can always log in and see where you are spending the most money. You can set up goals and the system will help guide you to where you want to be. Some really good sites that do this are Mint.com or Learnvest.com.
Knowledge is power. Let computer programs do all the tracking and budgeting for you! You get better reports, stay organized and always know your financial well-being. You have to know when you are getting money and from where, know where your money is spent and how deep in debt you are because all of this affects your credit score and that number is your lifeline to everything you want in life.
This week's money on my mind moment: Know your flow, know where it goes and how much you owe!
Next week on Breaking Luck Blog, Saving: How to Gain Without Pain
In common cents,
Susan Miele