by Rana Williamson

Created on: March 04, 2009   Last Updated: April 24, 2009

Budgets and diets fail for the same reasons, deprivation gets old and temptation grows strong. Once you give in and eat something you shouldn't or spend more than you have, the crushing guilt that follows generally leads to abandoning the effort altogether. One thing this recession can teach consumers is that quick fixes don't work and living responsibly isn't a punishment. Developing a realistic budget that not only saves money but directs funds toward the accomplishment of your goals is the most personally empowering financial move you can make.

*Psychological Hurdles*

Sticking to a budget begins with three psychological hurdles you must overcome.

- Own your financial situation.

- Decide you want to change to make your life better.

- Hold yourself accountable and expect to improve over time. (And reward yourself when you do.)

You are the one who spent the money. You can no longer afford a profligate lifestyle. You have the self-discipline to change your habits.

*The Mechanics of a Budget*

Don't make a budget more than it has to be. It's a tool of your making and design, that should include three basic elements.

1. Expense Tracking: The first step in any successful budget is expense tracking. Take 30 days to record all expenses, no matter how small, in meaningful categories (Groceries, Medical, Auto) to understand your current spending patterns.

2. Record Keeping: Continue to record expenses to build running monthly totals. This is a game, people! Compete against yourself to drive those numbers down. The money you save in one area gives you more freedom in another.

3. Cards in the Drawer: Put away your credit cards. You might as well be spending Monopoly money as use plastic. Count out cash or write checks to make your spending real and tangible. It's easy to pretend a credit card balance isn't there, but an empty checking account isn't so easy to ignore.

*Living the Budget*

Obviously if you go on a diet, you can't eat cheeseburgers and fries every day. When you go on a budget, there will be things that have to go.

Refine Your Choices

A latte from Starbucks every afternoon at 3 o'clock? At roughly $5 for a vente cup, that's $150 a month. Buy a smaller version or cut down on the frequency of your visits. You may find that latte actually tastes better and that you enjoy it more when you haven't had one in a couple of days.

Embracing Expectation

Living within your budget doesn't mean you have to deprive yourself, but it does call for embracing expectation. Remember those weeks

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