Write down why you're budgeting. Writing it down will make it easier for you to follow through. Create a clear “why” so that later on down the road if you are questioning yourself or thinking about quitting your budget, you can look at your “why” statement and remember what you're working towards.
Test Out Some Different Budgeting Styles
Find a budgeting method that lines up with your “why” statement. You can track your expenses by hand, or through an expense tracking app. Do some research on some of the different budgeting methods so you can find the one that works best for you.
Prioritize Your Expenses and Budgeting Goals
Once you have separated your needs from your wants, you can focus on the essentials. These include housing, groceries, utilities, and transportation costs. Make sure to prioritize your financial goals as well, whether that is paying off debt, saving for a vacation, or putting money away for retirement.
Work On Your Budget Monthly
There are so many tools that are available to help with budgeting. Mint is a great resource if you use multiple cards because you can input all of them and track all of your expenses in one place. Again, having this automation will save you so much time.