Can you share some advice on how you did it? Did you use a certain software program to track everything?
I have two main worksheets; one tracks spending and the other is the budget. Getting my head around seperating those as two different things was the key for me. Basically, at the beginning of the month I create a spending plan. I look at the calendar and see paydates, any travel, any birthdays. Then I look at my regular bills and estimate amounts (gas & electric, etc.). I make sure that plan is in the black. Then, as the month goes along I track my spending by category. (Groceries/household goods; entertainment; car; etc.). At the end of the month I compare the two and see how I did with the estimates vs. the actual. I use that info. to adjust my budget for the next month. An example is that I previously budget $0 for snacks; but I was going to the vending machine at work a few times a month. So I finally adjusted the spending plan to include those dollars. For me, the hardest part has been developing an accurate spending plan. I finally have one for May and am thrilled - and am going to try and come in under budget!
If I can trim $$ off of the food/household goods or entertainment categories, I can use those "found" dollars to make an extra payment toward my debt.
I think everybody has to adapt things for themselves. My worksheets are pen and paper, but I also use Excel for calculations, summaries and projections.
I am using free worksheets that I found on the net by searching "budget worksheets."
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