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Let's call this "Motivated Budgeting." It's going to tell you why you should use a budget, not how to live on one.

Some people do not plan ahead and just hope for the best. This is kind of like traveling without a map. You can do it for a while, but eventually you'll probably want to know where you are and where you're going.

Making a budget is like making a map to your future.

Budgeting requires prioritizing our lives. We must do some soul searching and communicate about our core values when we discuss the taboo subject of "Money." Some people would rather talk about their sex lives than discuss finances. They'll joke about it and say, "I have champagne tastes and live on a beer budget."

Managing money is a learned skill. Humans are not born with manuals on money management. Parents rarely discuss personal money matters even with their mature children. Even fewer people want to ask for help on how to manage their money. They would rather learn by trial and error.

Budgeting stirs emotions, often negatively. Money is Power and once you can control it, you will find yourself much more in control of your life. Budgeting involves motivation, commitment, setting priorities, self-discipline, and setting short-term and long-term goals.

Everyone knows the basics of budgeting. You make two columns on paper. The first lists every single thing you spend money for, preferably as a monthly average. The second lists your annual net pay divided by twelve. The total of the first should be less than or equal to the second.

You can go to http://www.myfinancialgoals.or g_assets/docs/budgeting/monthl ybudgetform.pdf and download a free budgeting worksheet. This is a starting point for discussion and, often, joint decision-making.

Make your first expenditure amounts in pencil because this is an ever-changing worksheet. If a couple hundred dollars seem to slip away unaccounted for each month, you obviously need to fine-tune your budget sheet.

This is not just a mathematical exercise; how you spend your money tells a lot about you as a person. Can you delay personal gratification to be able to afford long-term goals like your children's educations, a special vacation or early retirement?

If you're budgeting only for yourself, you won't have to explain your choices and decisions to another person. In fact, you can play by default: pay what comes due until the money runs out and do without for the rest of the month. This is not a good plan, but it is used some people.

If more than one person lives

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