Budgeting 101: Top 10 tips for making and following a monthly budget

Never had a monthly budget before? Here are some tips to get you started.

Whether you’re deep in the throes of money woes or you’re just looking for a way to save a bit more cash, there’s one thing you can do to turn everything around: You need a budget.

1. Start by simply tracking your spending.

If you’ve never had a budget before, start by just tracking what you spend and where you spend it. This will give you a good idea of your overall habits.

2. Figure out where you can “trim the fat.”

Once you’ve been tracking your spending habits for a month or two, take a look at where you can make some improvements. Perhaps you get a coffee at Starbucks every morning that you can do without. Or maybe you can try having date night at home sometimes instead of going out to a restaurant every week.

 

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