If you're having trouble creating or sticking to a budget, it can help to pick one "problem area" and track every penny you spend in this single category. For example, track the money you spend on dining out and see if that helps you reduce the amount of money you spend in this category.
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R.I.P. Wesabe.com -- it doesn't exist anymore as a budgeting site.
GREENSHADE4/7/2010 8:50:00 PM
This is great. Eating out is my only real money-waster (which explains why I need SP)!
ZENMIND74/3/2010 2:14:00 PM
I realized that I think I got this tip, or was inspired by, Wesabe.com. It's a great site for personal budgeting, and has a community aspect that's similar to SparkPeople's!
Related Secrets
Shopping
Do not go shopping when you are hungry because you will go above your budget by picking up things you do not even need.
If my spending is getting out of control I go back to all cash for a while. Each pay period I withdraw my budgeted amount in cash and put it into envelopes marked with budget category and amount. Real cash makes me stop before taking money from one envelope to finance a splurge. Works everytime.
Each payperiod I withdraw a certain amount of cash that I can spend during those two weeks. I write down where that money goes. Each month I review how I spent the cash. This helps with my budgeting & analyzing my wants & needs. I know if I need a new budget category or if I'm buying too many treats
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