If you are just beginning to budget or have tried budgeting and nothing seems to work for you, you should take the time to read “Rich on Any Income.” This is a basic budgeting book. It takes you step by step through forming a workable budget. The authors are straightforward in their instructions. The book outlines a budgeting system that will work for any individual that sticks to it.
The other great feature of this system is the flexibility it offers. You can set up a budget that matches your paychecks, so you can have a two-week budget, a monthly budget or a weekly budget. This makes it particularly easy to see where your money is going on a day-to-day basis. The categories allow for rollover from month to month so you can budget for bigger expenses such as car insurance or spread the cost of your heating bill out over the year.
The book is written with several different people in mind. It shares several different scenarios and the steps you will need to take in order to work through them. The examples are inspiring because they help to motivate you to begin the system. This system can work for the poorest individual as well as the richest. The point of the system is to spend less money than you earn. In order to do that you really need to track your day-to day expenses.
The system is easy to use, and fits into your checkbook. It allows you to track your spending as you spend the money. You fill out the budget form at the same time as you enter the transaction in your check register. The two concerns that accompany this product is that it is not as debit card friendly. You also will need to continue to purchase the booklets that fit into your register, though you may make up a spreadsheet or similar chart that would work as well.
If you are looking for a basic guide for a budgeting system, you should read this book. It will take you step by step through the process of setting up a realistic working budget for you and your family. It will also help you focus on the things that are truly important to you.