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may need new brake pads or tires. Christmas is approaching. Your computer crashes and you need to buy a new one. If each month you set aside a small amount of money in anticipation of future expenses, when something pops up, you will be ready. Not only will you not need to go into debt, but you will also still be able to stay within budget.

Second, build fun into your budget.

Depriving yourself of all recreation might work in the short-term, but it's not sustainable over the long-term. Budget for something that you enjoy each month or each week, depending on what you can afford. If it's in the budget, you'll have something to look forward to guilt-free. You also won't have to break the budget when you get the opportunity for some entertainment.

Third, just like one failed day of a diet doesn't mean you should give up trying to lose weight, one month where the budget crumbles doesn't mean you should give up budgeting.

You planned ahead; you did your best; you still went over budget due to unexpected circumstances. Don't give up. Adjust and start fresh the next month. If it takes you a month or two to recover from the off month, that's alright too. The important thing is that you eventually get back on-track.

A budget grows and changes with a family, but if you follow these four easy steps, you'll be well on your way to developing and sticking with one that's right for you.

Learn more about this author, Marcy Kennedy.
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