i need to learn to budget... i get paid and before i know it... its all gone. i wanna buy i new car but not until i can manage my money better. how did you learn to manage your money?

Good thinking! A lot of people wouldn't try to plan ahead like that!
Trial and error here, I got the check balancing software and plugged in everything I spent for a month, and saw where all my money went. Now I just use an excel spreadsheet and keep track that way.
Good luck!

great idea thanks!! whats the name of the software?

The first step is to identify where your money is currently going. Track your spending (to the PENNY, literally) for a two week period (a month is better if you can wait that long - it gives a full picture) by writing down EVERYTHING you spend in a notebook. This means if you buy a pack of gum - it goes on the list, pay a bill - on the list, etc. This is usually a big eye opener for a lot of people because that $2.00 coffee every morning doesn't seem like much until you realize it adds up to $40.00+ per month (5 days a week, 4 weeks a month). It is easy to spend away your money when it is just a few dollars here and there and not one big purchase - until you realize it IS one big purchase in the long run.
Once you have your spending log - time to go through what you are spending and separate needs and wants. You have to be brutally honest in this part of the process. Budget for the needs first and then allow for some of your wants out of the "mad money" (btw, savings falls under the NEEDS category so it is taken out before you even look at what you can budget for random spending).
The envelope method can be a great way to break bad spending habits - it's much easier to really see what you are spending (and what you can afford to spend) when it is cold hard cash vs. popping out the ol' debit or credit card.

There's a good free website.....I'll PM when I find it again.

The first step is to identify where your money is currently going. Track your spending (to the PENNY, literally) for a two week period (a month is better if you can wait that long - it gives a full picture) by writing down EVERYTHING you spend in a notebook. This means if you buy a pack of gum - it goes on the list, pay a bill - on the list, etc. This is usually a big eye opener for a lot of people because that $2.00 coffee every morning doesn't seem like much until you realize it adds up to $40.00+ per month (5 days a week, 4 weeks a month). It is easy to spend away your money when it is just a few dollars here and there and not one big purchase - until you realize it IS one big purchase in the long run.
Once you have your spending log - time to go through what you are spending and separate needs and wants. You have to be brutally honest in this part of the process. Budget for the needs first and then allow for some of your wants out of the "mad money" (btw, savings falls under the NEEDS category so it is taken out before you even look at what you can budget for random spending).
The envelope method can be a great way to break bad spending habits - it's much easier to really see what you are spending (and what you can afford to spend) when it is cold hard cash vs. popping out the ol' debit or credit card.

Very good advice!

I need to do that too! Money goes so fast and I wonder where the hell it all goes to! There are a lot of free online budget calculators so check em out!

http://www.providian.com/calculator/budget_calculator2.htm

http://www.youcandealwithit.com/budgeting_tools/budget_calculator.shtml

I do online banking so i am always mananging my account at the end of the day and calculate everything i spend for that day. I also have a spreadsheet of what needs to be paid and how much i want to go into savings. I schedule all my bills and savings to be taken out a week in advance and what ever is left is what we use to splurge with.

Its going to be hard, but keep track of whatever you spend money on. In no time you'll be calculating in your head of how much you have before you spend a dime on anything. Well me anyways.

Goodluck!

This is an awesome Excel spreadsheet budget. :) Try it!!

http://momsfinance.googlepages.com/

Also, if you are a spouse, ACS is always offering classes on post (at least here) on checkbook management, financial planning, budgeting, etc.

wow thanks for all the help ladies... i will start this with my paycheck i get friday!