Writing a New Budget

Committing your budgeting plans to paper - or to a budgeting software program - is a useful step because it provides a visual reminder of the new budget. Making the commitment also makes it more likely that the budget will be followed.

Enter the big debts and income first. Then prioritize the smaller debts in order of importance. Things like lunch money and buying laundry soap might not seem all that important to a budget, but if there is no money left for them, they will seem very important.