popular: pets board How to Start a Budget to Get Out of Debt by Michelle Kulas, Demand Media Pay off debt by sticking to a budget. Christine Balderas/Photodisc/Getty Images If you have started out your new life together in debt, you may be frustrated and apprehensive about the future. The good news is that you can create a budget to pay off bills, get out of debt and begin saving toward your future goals. While some people find the word "budget" to be synonymous with deprivation, it does not have to be that way. Track your income and your expenses and learn to make good choices for spending your money, then watch your debt melt away. Items you will need Pay stubs and other income paperwork Monthly bills and paperwork of other expenses Notebook Step 1 Compile a list of the amount of money that comes into your house on a monthly basis. Gather pay stubs, banking statements and any other paperwork that you have documenting your income. Step 2 Gather a pile of your monthly bills and obligations. Include expenses for which you have no actual bill, such as gasoline for your car, grocery money, and expenses for restaurant lunches. It may help to carry a notebook with you to track your spending for a month, suggests Dave Ramsey, financial guru and author of "The Financial Peace Planner." Step 3 Print up or make a budget worksheet. You can find these in financial planning books, on websites such as