Creating a Budget

I would say creating a budget would be the first step to getting a hold on your debt. It will start the process to change your spending habits and really make you take a look at your spending. It will allow you to be accountable and see everything on paper.

The first step in order to create a budget is to write down all your bills. You can just grab a notebook and write it all down, or you can use a printable such as:

http://www.momsbudget.com/printables/householdbudgetprint.html

http://www.daveramsey.com/media/pdf/fpu_qbudget.pdf

I believe seeing everything listed on paper will make it more "Real". You need to know where you money is going or where it is supposed to be going. Having it all down on paper will lead you to the next step which is cutting back on your expenses! This will be especially helpful if you are like most people who are in debt and attempting to be DEBT FREE!!!!!

I personally create a monthly budget each month. I update it weekly, as our incomes are weekly and bi-weekly and do fluctuate. I do keep a seperate worksheet for our debt and update it monthly,as well.