Steeling Your Resolve

Now comes the hard part: living according to your budget. Having a budget is meaningless if you and your family aren’t going to stick to it. Sticking to your budget won’t be easy, but keep your eye on the prizes: less financial stress, fewer debts, less damage to your credit history, and (eventually) more money to spend the way you want.

As you go through each month, be mindful of every dollar you spend, every check you write, and every time you use your debit card or go to an ATM machine.

Cut up your credit cards, or use them only in emergencies. Refer to your  udget regularly to make sure you’re staying on track. If you find that you  have overspent in one area, try to compensate by reducing in another area.

If your kids ask for things that you haven’t budgeted for, remind them why your family is trying to spend less. If they’re older, maybe they can earn the money they need for what they want.

Carry a small notebook or some other small record-keeping device with you for writing down everything you purchase with cash, a debit card, or a credit card each day. Keep all your receipts as well. You’ll need this information at the end of each month when it’s time to evaluate how well you’re doing.