Prevent Financial Problems

• If you're not sure where you money goes every month, you may overspend. Overspending can lead to increased debt, or you may find yourself unable to pay a bill because you spent your income on something else. By creating a budget, you account for all of your expenses and reduce your spending in certain areas, which cuts down on the potential for missed bills or increased debt.
  
  

Make Adjustments in Expenses

• To create a traditional budget, it's necessary to estimate your variable expenses such as utility bills, groceries and entertainment expenses. If your total expenses exceed your monthly income or you want to free up more income for other goals, you can use your budget to decide what expenses to reduce or cut. For example, you can cut back on entertainment expenses to save more money each month.
  
  

Reach Financial Goals

• Having a budget in place will make it easier to reach financial goals. For example, if you want to pay down debt, you can factor in your monthly debt payments into your budget so you can cover the cost. If you want to save a certain amount each month, you can use your budget to determine where to reduce your expenses so you can save the extra income.
  
  

Tips

• To make your budget work, you must monitor your spending. Track your spending for one or two months to ensure you created a realistic budget. If you overspend in certain categories, such as groceries or buying gas, adjust your budget or reduce your spending.