A budget that you can begin and keep is one of the first steps of a bright financial future.  Your budget is not a punishment for not being born rich, it's a path that shows you where your money goes and help you reach your financial goals.

Key areas to think about when creating your budget are:

1. Figure out where your money is going. (Track your spending.)
2. How much money are you bringing in? 
3. Identify Wants vs. Needs
4. Prioritize. (What do I pay first?)
5. Build an emergency savings account.

Click here for a basic budgeting spreadsheet.