Setting Up a Budget

There are tons of resources to help people figure out a household budget, manage paying off bills, and other such things. If you have never set up a budget before, something low-tech may be in order. Pick up a copy of The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Living on a Budget by Peter J. Sander and Jennifer Basye Sander. It's short, sweet, to the point, and loaded with step-by-step instructions on how to set up a basic household budget. Another good resource is The Family Budget Workbook: Gaining Control of Your Personal Finances by Larry Burkett. The book includes instructions and worksheets for setting up a realistic household budget that you and your family can actually live with.