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Use a personal budget for gaining control of your spending habits, getting out of debt, saving for your future, and investing!

This process is not for the big investors nor for those who are filing bankruptcy. It's for people who are making "enough," but they are not making their money work for them.

1): No matter what your income is, pay yourself first, whether it is $10 or $1000 a month. All millionaires know that.

Create a budget sheet - a visual aid - and understand exactly where your money is going. Then you will know how much you can set aside for yourself. This visual aid will be your map to your financial future.

2): Get motivated. If you have a partner, discuss common goals, priorities, and personal values. Budgeting is not a simple exercise in math; it is a revelation of character. This is why discussing money is a difficult topic for so many people.

3): Get out of debt. One popular financial advisor says about 99% of the people in her audiences admit to having credit card debts that burden them.

4): Once you can balance your budget, start saving money and investing it. Your ultimate goal is to make money work for you.

Managing money is a learned skill. Learn as you go or get help from someone who knows how to budget a trusted friend, a relative, or the free counseling service listed later.

Get a free budget work sheet at http://www.myfinancialgoals.or g_assets/docs/budgeting/monthl ybudgetform.pdf.

If you're only budgeting for yourself, you can spend till the money runs out and go without until the end of the month. This is not a good idea, but some people do it.

If you are providing for others, you really need to live on a balanced budget. You can always get a smaller house, trade-in for a smaller car, and buy cheaper food, but you will end up with a bottom line that you have to live with.

Know exactly where you stand. Figure out your net monthly income from all sources. Add up your monthly expenditures.

Make your expense list as detailed and accurate as possible. Save your food receipts. Check them for non-food items and add those under their correct row, like paper goods, dog food, laundry products. Figure out how much you actually spend on food.

If your budget leaves too much unaccounted for, save receipts and re-work the numbers. Try to account for every dollar until this becomes second nature to you.

Every family has its own priorities and expenses. Some things are negotiable; some aren't. Can you lower costs like combining phones, Internet service and

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