A budget creates the foundation for even the most simple financial plan. Without a budget it's hard to keep track of where you're money is going, how much you're spending, and where opportunities for savings might lie. Even though budgeting is one of the first and most important aspects of a financial plan, very few people actually create and follow one.

For many, following a budget sounds like a chore. It creates images of tedious expense tracking, cutting out all of the fun things in your life, and being forced to count every penny. Fortunately, that doesn't have to be the case. Budgeting can be as simple or complex as you make it, but no matter how you create your budget if you follow it, you'll be on your way to financial independence. Here's a collection of resources to help you with your budget.

Budgeting 101 originally appeared on About.com Financial Planning on Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 10:37:05.

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Saving money is an elusive goal for many, but if you follow a few simple secrets it isn't as hard as you might think. Granted, there's no silver bullet that will magically put money into your savings account, but there are a few things you can do to make saving money that much easier. It really comes down to three things:

• Budgeting
• Paying yourself first
• Spending less than you earn

Does it seem like common sense? Well, it really is, but that doesn't mean it's easy to do. Here's how you can tackle the three secrets to saving money so that you begin building wealth and get out of debt.

The Secret to Saving Money originally appeared on About.com Financial Planning on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 21:29:20.

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Credit card debt is one of the biggest problems most people face when trying to get a handle on their finances. Credit cards make it easy to spend more money than you have, and then the crippling interest rates and fees make it seem impossible to get out from under. While there isn't an instant cure for credit card debt, there are steps you can take to put yourself on a path to becoming debt free.

It takes a little planning, a little budgeting, and some time, but if you keep at it you'll find that you're getting out of debt faster than you had imagined. Here's the process to help you eliminate your credit card debt.

Eliminate Credit Card Debt originally appeared on About.com Financial Planning on Sunday, February 28th, 2010 at 19:09:41.

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Overspending and accumulating significant amounts of credit card debt isn't always easy to resolve. Over time, this problem can become an addiction that goes beyond simply affecting your finances. Just like any addiction, this behavior can negatively affect your performance at work, your relationships with friends and family, and even reduce your quality of life. If you or someone you know is in this situation, there is help available.

Debtors Anonymous is a nonprofit organization that provides free group meetings that are modeled after the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program. This type of group session and structure may be very well what is needed to finally break the spending habit. Learn more about Debtors Anonymous and how they can help.

Struggling with Debt? Debtors Anonymous Can Help originally appeared on About.com Financial Planning on Thursday, February 25th, 2010 at 20:23:43.

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