Categorize your purchases
Don't you just hate budgeting? Nobody wants to see how much money they can spend because it makes them realize how little they can buy. But budgeting isn't that hard.
Look over all your purchase for the past year and define a category for each one such as taxes, car, and food. Then break those categories down. Taxes/income tax, car/gas, food/dining out. Here is an example of an end result:
Car:
Gas
Maintenance
Taxes
Now you can use those categories to find out how much you have spent on each specific category and how much you have spent on the overall category. Once you have compiled that list, you can compare it with other years and come up with an average amount you spend.
Purchase a computer program to help you
Quicken, Microsoft Money, Mac Money, and many others can allow you to keep close tabs on your finances. They will also break down your categories and allow you to create a budget relatively easily. The most valuable part of the program is the reports they offer you. You can build a report to show you your total amount spent on each category or whether or not you are over budget.
Answer budget questions
According to Everybody's Money, a Credit Union National Association (CUNA) sponsored publication, if you can answer "yes" to most of the following questions, you have pretty good control of your financial affairs.
Have you calculated your net worth in the past two years?
Have you set any financial goals in the past year?
Did you develop a plan to meet your goal or goals?
Are you meeting the goals you set, at least most of the time?
Do you have an up-to-date will?
If you're single, have you established power of attorney for your financial affairs in case you become incapacitated?
Have you reviewed your insurance coverage in the past two years?
Do you have a retirement financial plan?
Have you made a point of educating yourself about investments?
Do you know your approximate debt-to-income ratio?
Do you have credit in your own name?
Do you make sure to spend some money on music, motorcycles, travel, flowers, fly fishing, or whatever is special to you?
