If you were to perform an internet search for “free budget”, you would probably get back several thousand results.  The relevance of those results to your search will vary widely.  The sites listed will offer a variety of things.  Some will offer free budget worksheets or free budget templates.  Others might offer free budget software, or even the ability for you to do your budget on line.  There are even some sites that will offer a free sample budget that might fit your needs if you can make your life fit the budget.

The point I’m trying to make is that a free budget is probably not what you are looking for.  I think a free budget is probably only worth what it cost you.  A free budget costs nothing, and I think that is what it will be worth to you, nothing.  You see, I think that you have to make an effort to build a budget that is going to fit and satisfy your plan for your financial life.  A budget is a careful plan.  No one can give you that plan. You must develop that plan as it will be unique to you and your circumstances. You have to decide what your plan is by establishing goals for your financial life. You have to make the effort to develop that plan.  You have to assess your current situation and may decide to redefine or realign your spending. You must then work that plan. Your plan is worthless if you don’t follow the plan.  If that is a free budget, then I don’t understand what free is.

On the other hand, I think there are a lot of good free tools being offered to help you develop your budget.  Many of the worksheets will help you define and prioritize the goals of your budget.  If you do a good job here, developing, defining and prioritizing your goals you will find the rest of the job of living on a budget much easier.  The templates provided as worksheets should allow you to assess your current situation.  Some of them can be edited to fit your specific needs as you realign your spending to achieve your goals.  You want something that is convenient and easy to use particularly in the beginning stages of living on a budget.  If you don’t use the tools, you probably won’t get the job done.

Free budget?  I don’t think so.  Remember what I told you I thought it was worth?  Developing, maintaining, and living on a budget is going to take some effort and planning on your part, which means it is not free. There are a lot of good tools to help you with your budget.  Some of them are free, and some have a cost.  Those that have a cost are quite often much better tools for you to use developing and monitoring your budget.  When you have the best tools, it is much easier to do the job.  Look for the best budget tools and take the time to learn how to use them to your best advantage.

If you have really decided to live on a budget, you have taken an important step toward financial control of your life.  Now you must do the job.  Remember the old adage “there ain’t no free lunch” and you will realize that there is no free budget.  Make the decision, begin the work, use the best tools, and be persistent.  The result should be financial control of your life.

Why budget? A lot of people must not know the answer, because they don’t live on a budget.  They must think that it is not worth the time and effort to create a good budget. That is apparent, when one considers the number of people who have financial problems. They fail to take the time to make a careful financial plan and can’t seem to understand why they are faced with money problems.  They just won’t accept the fact that when they fail to plan, they are actually planning to fail. 

There is much to consider when deciding whether or not to budget.  I’m here to tell you that a good budget, developed properly, and instituted rigorously can give you benefits beyond giving you a better financial life.  For instance, you could have a much less stressful life with a good budget.  A less stressful life could help you minimize, if not eliminate, ulcers, stomach problems, high blood pressure, danger of stroke, irritability, and so on.  You would probably sleep better also. 

Consider that most people live from paycheck to paycheck.  Most see their money run out before the month does.  They are in debt and quite often borrow money at high rates to consolidate bills or pay off troublesome ones.  They see themselves in a downward spiral leading deeper into debt.  Situations like this, if one has any moral fiber, quite often produce stress in one’s life.  That stressful life can lead to many health problems.  Reduce the stress and you can reduce the health problems. 

Take the time and make the effort to develop a good budget.  Analyze your spending and see where the money is going.  Do a good job of this, especially if you are coming up short of money each month.  Once you know where your money is going, then you decide if that’s where you want it to go.  You have to be realistic about your current situation, as well as determine where you want to go with your financial plan.  When you allocate your spending into categories, be sure to include allowances for some long term goals, as well as covering your immediate situation.  The bottom line is that spending can not exceed income and must make allowances for reducing and eliminating debt.  You probably are going to have to eliminate, or at least reduce, some spending.  It may be stressful during the budget planning process, but that is a short-term thing.  You will be eliminating stress in the future, if you commit to living within the budget that you have carefully developed. 

Why budget?  You need to develop a careful plan governing your income and spending.  Take the time to make your financial decisions during that development.  Make the decisions now, so there are fewer decisions to make in the future.  Fewer decisions in the future should result in less stress in the future.  Less stress should lead to better health.  So, budget for better financial and physical health.  I think you will find the results well worth your time and effort.

I am not referring to flying saucers piloted by little green men flitting around the skies abducting people for unknown reasons.  I will leave that subject to those with different information than I have or want to possess.  I want to discuss a Unique Financial Oppurtunity (UFO) that I think you will see after you learn how to budget..
The special financial opportunity that I want you to see, consider, and achieve is for you to become financially secure.  If you can do that, you will find yourself in a very special financial group.  Financial security, should reduce personal stress, allow you to improve your marital relationship, and generally give you a feeling of superiority.

Once you learn how to budget, develop that careful plan, and actually conform your spending to that budget, you will find that there are actually very few decisions you must make about your spending.  The decisions are made by the budget.  The budget determines how much of your money is spent where.  This should definitely lead to less stress for you concerning money matters.

What are the two major factors that lead to marital problems?  I am told they are sex and money.  I’ll not attempt to address the sex factor.  I don’t want to dismiss the potential for sex problems in a marriage, but I’ll leave that advice to others.  As far as money matters are concerned, I know that if you learn how to budget, mutually develop your spending plan, and commit to living by that budget, you will minimize one major factor that leads to marital conflict.  Both partners must be involved.  Both partners must know how to budget.  Both partners must be involved in the development of the budget.  Both partners must agree that the budget will control their finances.  Once this is done, you will find that financial conflict in your marriage is greatly reduced or eliminated.

Self esteem is a major factor affecting our mental health.  Each of us needs to feel good about who we are and what we do.  If you do your homework, make the effort, and commit to a good budget, you will find yourself in the company of a special group.  You will have eliminated a major factor of stress in your personal life.  You will have reduced or eliminated, a major potential problem in your marriage.  You should feel good about yourself when you achieve what many would like to have.

There are many unique financial opportunities (UFO) to a good budget.  I will address some of those at a future time.  For now, eliminating personal stress, improving your marriage, and boosting your self-esteem, should be enough reasons for you to make the necessary effort.  You really do need to know how to budget. You really should make a careful analysis of your finances and develop a good financial plan.  Once you have done these things, you must commit to letting your budget control your finances.  Plan your work.  Then work your plan.  I know that you’ll be a much happier person.

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