Budgeting

Can you afford that dinner out, or that new cell phone? Unless you have a monthly budget, you won’t know the answer. And you could end up with out-of-control debt.

Keep track with this easy budget worksheet (pdf, 0.12 MB) or our budget calculator.

  • First, list your income.
  • Next, list your expenses by category.
  • Then, include a bit for “surprise” expenses each month.
  • Finally, compare your total expenses to your total income and see how you’re doing.

Keep your budget someplace where you’ll see it often—in your wallet or over your desk. Making a budget and then ignoring it doesn’t work.