budget

[gwilson31]

I only get paid once a month so as soon as I get my paycheck I pay all the bills.  Then I just have to make do with what I have left.  I have a credit card for emergencies.

[hawkeye3210]

A budget is a good thing to make.

[countrygirl12]

I just pay my bills.  I don't waste money or buy extras.  If everything is paid and it is more than 2 weeks until the cycle starts over I know I have a little extra to splurge if I wish. But I KNOW what I owe so I do not need to sit down and make a budget saying x for this and x for that.

[santa7]

I keep a budget but still seem to overspend - usually with unforseen car repairs.

[betlynjua]

It takes work and an honest look at your personal circumstances to put together a successful budget.  It may not be fun and as you state, you don't look forward to it but a financial disaster by not putting together a budget would be so much worse. 

I know too many people who have absolutely not concept of money or the responsibility of using it properly.  Their lives are an endless nightmare. 

[mrisha]

Start your list with the most important bills down to the ones that are less needed.  Not sure you can do that, but I have always paid all my bills when they are due.

[debidoo]

Yes so difficult to do.   When my husband passed away and I lost his income as well, this is something I had to give serious thought to.....first thing to go cable.  I always kept cable for him because he was basically bedridden the last couple of years so after he was gone I dropped cable and just have had netflix since which is enough for me.  I didn't have a car for a long time which I realize most people can't do but I was able to utilize a little shuttle for the disabled.  Well good luck to you in your budgeting endeavors.

[bigfoot951]

I'm going to be going through that over the next year.  I got a pretty good promotion at work and I am trying to figure out if I will be able to buy my first home.  I am cautiously looking forward to it.

[Tresbn00]

My budget consists of working sixteen to twenty hours six days a week, twelve hours on the seventh day (when I catch up on sleep and fill up my gas tank) and having my family spend ninety three percent of that money, quickly, followed by my wife asking me not to spend any money because we are tight. I don' even bother pointing out that I don't spend money any more.  The other seven percent goes into retirement funds and investments. The percentage increases by one percent every time I get a pay increase. All of my peripheral income goes into investments as well. My wife loves playing tennis for her hobby while I like investing for mine. Hers costs money while mine makes money. She believes that all of the proceeds from my hobby should be funneled back to the family. Right.