How do you make a budget?
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Yes I do. First thing is take your credit card and hide it somewhere that you would have to break something you like open in order to get access to it. For example, your makeup compact that costs a lot. Hide your credit card in there and make sure the only way you can get it is if you break your compact open. This way everytime you are tempted to spend, you wont want to because you wont want to break your compact. Also when food shopping get coupons and look for bigger packages with speacial deals. A few penny's here and there makes a huge difference. Lastly, every paycheck you get set aside $50, even when you owe bills. This will help you out in the long run and remember only get what you need because what you dont have you dont need at all.
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Budget Creation 101\n\nGet a sheet of paper and list all your income on it at the top.\n\nThis is the order you will pay you bills in:\n\nNecessary expenses.  Shelter (mortgage/rent, utilities - electric, gas water - NOT cell phone, cable/satellite, internet), food (not fast food or restaurant food), clothing, transportation (gas, insurance - NOT auto loan), and savings for emergencies.  If you are here and have run out of money, you need to get another/better job.\n\nAfter this, discretionary spending.  Cable/satellite, internet, cell phone, fast food/restaurants, life insurance (necessary if you have dependents), auto maint (oil changes, registration), home repair/maint (if you own).  If you get to here and run out of money, it's time to start cutting things.\n\nFinally, debt.  Credit cards, student loans, auto loan.  List each loan separately from lowest balance to highest, including what the minimum payments are.  If you get to this point and run out, you either need to decrease some discretionary expenses or come up with more money (2nd job, yard sale or eBay, or sell the car and buy a cheaper one then use the 'profit' to pay debt).\n\nIf you don't tell your money where to go, it will still go.\n\nFor some sample budgets, check out Dave Ramsey's website.
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First off, understand that a budget isn't to save money, it's to tell your money what it's going to be doing for the next month or so.  You can stay on a budget and not pay your bills, shop 'til you drop, and not save a penny.  You are still on a budget as long as that's what you planned to do.\n\nHowever, if you want to save and pay your bills, you set up the budget to address those desires.  A month makes a good time-frame for a budget, so only list that one month's income, and then determine where every dollar is going to go.  Hopefully some will be left over for savings after paying bills, planning for occasional expenses (quarterly insurance, tag, whatever), buying some groceries, and so forth.  After doing the budget and working on the final numbers with your spouse (if applicable), agree to stick to it.  Never spend any money that isn't planned for by the budget.  "Hey," you say, "what if something comes up I forgot about?"  Simple - call an Emergency Budget Summit Meeting with your spouse.  I.e., sit down and figure out where the money is going to come from.  Scrimp a bit on food, cut back on entertainment, whatever - adjust the budget to include the unexpected expense.  Doing this will force you to accept that the money has to come from somewhere other than that darned useful Visa card (that will kill you over time).\n\nYour best bet for an entire plan of attack is Dave Ramsey's book _My Total Money Makeover_, usually available at the local library (or at your local bookstore).  _Financial Peace_, also by Ramsey, is also a good choice but MTMM is the latest.  Ramsey's plan is a systematic way to get out of debt and build wealth -- a realistic way, which means you won't be rich next month.  You can also take a look at http://www.daveramsey.com but the book is a better introduction to the system.\n\nI'm not affiliated with Ramsey, I just used his ideas and know they work.\n\nGood luck.
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What do you need? Do a budget, and that should let you know what you need for your loan amount.
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First you need to know what your net income is.  In case you don't know what this is:  Net income is the income after taxes (remember we have to pay Uncle Sam first) and other deductions.\n\nYou'll also need to know the expenses you have per month. \n\nI'll give you a typical budget.\n\nExample for a Monthly budget:\n\n2500.00 Net Income\n\n0850.00 Rent or Mortgage\n0100.00 House insurance\n0100.00 Gas\n0050.00 Phone\n0050.00 Electricity\n0040.00 Cell phone\n0250.00 Food\n0100.00 Clothes\n\n1540.00 Total expenses\n\n0960.00 Balance\n\nThere are expenses that you cannot change.  For instance, the rent or mortgage do not vary  unless you move somewhere else or get a new mortgage.\n\nEverything else on this budget can be changed.  \n\nIf you see that you don't have enough money to pay the rent, then don't eat out that much, don't buy those extra pair of sneakers just because they were beautiful.\n\nIn the above budget, you have 960.00 extra per month.  You can choose to spend it all on beautiful sneakers.  I would advise you to save some of it for a rainy day. After all, 950.00 on sneakers is pretty high.  Don't you think?\n\nBesides, if you don't own a house now, maybe you'll want to save it for a house. I don't know.  Maybe you prefer to go on a vacation.  My point is:  DO NOT SPEND ALL YOUR MONEY UNLESS YOU HAVE TO.  ONE DAY YOU MIGHT NEED IT.\n\nOf course, your budget might differ from above.  I  did not take diapers for your toddlers into consideration.  Neither did I take medical costs, babysitters, or entertainment into consideration.  \n\nI figure that this is enough for you to see how a budget works.  \n\nRemember, if your income is greater than your expenses, don't spend what you have left on stupid things.\n\nIf your income is less than your expenses, you are in big trouble.  Therefore, cut down on the expenses.\n\nKeep in mind, however, that sometimes you need to spend money on stupid things.  They nourish your soul.
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If you want an apartment and live on your own you need to first learn how to make a budget.By making a budget you will not only know if you can afford an apartment but when you will be able to buy a home.Check out a book called "Financial Peace" written by Dave Ramsey.It will explain it all to you much better than anyone can describe on here and it will also give you tools for your future...
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To prepare a budget following steps should be taken:-\n\n1.Identify the inflows and outflows.\n2.Segregate the essential outflows and define outlays for them.\n3.Keep in mind that the outlays should not overshoot the inflows.\n4.Always keep buffer for the unexpected/unscheduled outflows.
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The Key is NECESSITY. If you have trouble with spending money, then try to stick with only buying items that YOU NEED and  you know what you really need or not and what you can do without.  Also try to limit the amount you spend each week and try to maintain a certain amount for each week and that will limit your use.\n\nOh and most importantly, PUT MONEY ASIDE FOR  YOUR BILLS FIRST BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE, then things might go a little smoother for you. But dont forget the key, Think: NECESSITY AND BILLS.
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Creating a budget would be ideal, but it can get boaring and eventually you will stop keeping track of your spending, if budgeting is not interesting to you. \n\nOne easier way would be to estimate the total amount of money you allocate to entertainment(anything that considered to be a want not a need) then take 10% of that amount and save it.\n\nExample if you spend $250 a month on entertainment save $25 a month. Be sure to put the money is some form of interest bearing savings account.
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Pay Cash\nDo things that don't require money\nDeposit Money in a savings account\nSimplify your lifestyle\nSet a financial goal
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Find a friend or family member who is good with money and ask them for their help and guidance.  It is always good to have personal help and not just read tips off of a website or book so that your situation, personality, likes and dislikes can be factored into your budget.  \n\nSuze Orman on CNBC Saturday nights is also a great resource!
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I was in the same boat as you once. What I did was I sat down and wrote out a budget. I listed everything I spent money on for the last 2 months and looked at my income. I quickly figured out a lot of things on my expenses were stupid and a waste of money. I cooked at home more instead of going out, I stopped buying coffee at starbucks everyday, I learned to buy soda when it was on sale. Before you knew it, I freed up about $300 extra a month. So really look at your expenses and think about what you need and what you want. Big difference in that.
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The only path from struggle to wealth is to spend less than you make, it really is that simple.\n\nIf your boss came to you tomorrow and said "I can either lay you off or give you a ten percent paycut, your choice...", most likely you would take the paycut.  So give yourself a paycut! When a check comes, regardless of the bills and the rent, take ten percent off the top and invest it in a broad market fund.  (Something like 'Spiders', maybe...)\n\nPay off all your debt (smallest first until it's gone, then the next, etc.)\n\nDon't amass any more debt.\n\nNever drive a new car.\n\nNever pay for coffee someone else made!
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Budget, Budget, Budget.  You need to sit down and write up a budget.  If it ain't on the list and isn't absolutely required then it ain't gettin' done.  As you get used to this each pay period you'll get better at listing everything and estimating bills.  As you go through the month you'll be surprised at how much you'll be tempted to spend on non-requirements.  Make sure you factor in entertainment and food into your budget.  Budget is not a dirty word.  After you do it a few times you'll see it's not a burden.  BTW, get rid of that car or pay if off ASAP.  Alot of people retire poor because they always have a car payment.
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Start with a file cabinet and organize your bills. and etc you will always find them when you need them.\n  Make a cook book , by typing all your recipes into the computer and copying them , give them to your children or Friends for a gift. Add poems or stories of you growing up make it personnel. You can make it small or big it all depends on you. Get fancy copying paper to jazz it up..Clean out your closets and give it to the poor,
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Dont spend money before you make it?
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Use the envelope system.  Make a realistic budget for each category and when you get paid put that much money into each envelope.  When the money in the envelope is gone you don't buy anything else in that category.