Frugal Tips

Many people start a budget process with the best of intentions, only to fail to keep accurate track of their spending.

Software can help with that. Using a program such as Quicken allows you to categorize and track every check according to your budget categories. You can also efficiently process your credit card expenditures in the same program. (You can avoid any expenditure by using one of the free alternatives to Quicken).

Use of such a program, combined with keeping your cash spending to a minimum, can help you understand where your money really goes.

If you choose a paid program instead of a free budget program, you don't need to pay to update it every year. The new bells and whistles are rarely worth it, so long as the basic program is working for you. Update when and only when you really need to.