Do you know of a good program to make a home budget with? Do you hve a budget?

I have once made a very minimal budget for a week but I don't think it will work on you considering our nationality and location difference. But you may check on my site http://practical housewife.blogspot.com for some of my budgeting posts.

I'd also mention that the best way to see what you are spending...write down every single thing you spend in one day - add it up and do the math - you'll be shocked at what you spend and don't know it or realize it or understand how much .. in just one day! Kind of like, you stop for a cup of coffee every morning on your way to work - if just regular coffee at fast food, say a buck a day, which isnt that much. But look at it on a weekly scale and you have spent $5-7 this week just for a cup of coffee every day! You can buy a huge can full at the store for that much and it'll last you for a month! And all for only $7. But if you do Starbucks, do the math on at least $3.75 a day for a cup of coffee MINIMUM. That is 18.75 - $26.25 a week! Just for a cup of coffee every morning. Times 52 weeks in the year and you have spent $1365 for coffee this year! Good grief that is a nice vacation, a extra mortgage payment, 2 car payments and so on.... you'll be shocked when you do the math!!! But it will shock you into saving and that is a good thing!

I use the good old fashion way of the green ledger sheets. Just write down all you bills you pay every month. Then subtract that from your NET income and there you have it - your budget. IF it is in the red, they you have all you need to review your expenses to see where to cut back or out nad if in the black, y ou can see what you can do to stay in the black - i.e.where to cut back so as to put more in savings. I think many times, although they help some, that the pencil and paper method is the best way - it is literally all there in black and white and starring you in the face - can't ignore or reject it. Has worked great for me for years!