Article: Use a spreadsheet and list the types of expenses you in the first column. Write the months of the year in the rows. Include a title row in the first row. Your expenses should include categories like housing, transportation, groceries, phone/internet, healthcare, interest payments, eating out, clothing and entertainment. Plan the budget out for at least the next 12 months. If you are married, include the income and expenses for the whole family. You are getting some economies of scale when you buy groceries for several people. First, gather your receipts, your credit card bill and your bank statement. Then, record your expenses last month. Every time you find a receipt that doesn't fit into your expenses categories, add a new category. You need to create an accurate view of what you are spending your money on. Download the Mint app for your smart phone, or use it on your computer, if you use your device regularly. It has a budgeting feature, which also records expenses and adds them to your monthly total, so you can see if you are staying on budget. If the number is negative, you are going into debt and need to strategize about how to make ends meet. Look for monthly expenses, such as eating out, travel or clothing that you can cut to make ends meet.

What is a summary?
Create a budget. Add a separate row for income and input your after-tax income. Don't spend another dime without recording it in your budget. Subtract your expenses from your income. Review your expenses closely.