Any ideas on tools to help one create and manage a budget?

Question

my sis-in-law is 27 and has no idea how to manage money. She wont have access to a computer as she cant afford one. Are there any books or templates out there to help her keep track of income and spending?

Answer 1

To GENERATE a budget, you need a sheet of paper and a pen.

At the top of the page, write your income for THIS month.  There is no such thing as a USABLE budget for a normal month, because there is no such thing as a normal month.

Below the income, list EVERYTHING you will do with that money.  Saving, if you intend to do so, belongs on the list.

Keep a running balance as you go.  If the number at the bottom of the page is not ZERO, your budget is out of balance, go back and fix it.

to MANAGE budget, use the envelope system.  If you have $200 budgeted for food, put $200 CASH in an envelope labeled FOOD.  You buy ALL your food from that envelope and NOTHING but food from that envelope.  When the envelope is empty, you can't buy food for the rest of the month.  After about 3 months, you will know how much belongs in the food envelope.

Answer 2

all yu need is paper & pensil or pen, maby file folders & plaes tu store bills & folders.  & a kalkulater.

Mite help tu get a simpel book bout budjets...tri library first.

I thank the dummy books hav sampel forms.

Answer 3

Write down every penney you spend for a couple of weeks.  You will see where you need to cut back.

Answer 4

Keeping track of your income and expenses with pen and paper or an Excel spreadsheet is possible and cheap, but Quicken makes it really easy. You can buy it at any store that sells software or at www.quicken.com