Developing a budget is an easy thing to do.  Sticking to it, well, that's another matter. It might seem that developing a budget should be an elementary task. But many people are simply not inclined to use spreadsheets, balance checkbooks or lay out a formal budget.It is within everybody's self-interest to make the effort to outline expenses against income even if it requires getting someone else to help undertake the task. The budget should include monthly income and outgo, projections of expected increases and decreases and some buffer for the unexpected. Continue reading →