recreatingreality.com

No one wants to do this.  It is perhaps one of the hardest “at home” tasks that any family can undertake.  The reason is simple.  No one wants to face the reality that most of us spend more than we earn.  But, if there has ever been a time to deal with a budget, now is the time.

Do not fudge the numbers!  We all have a tendency to say that we spend less than we do.  It’s not always an intentional thing, but it seems to hold true for most families. 

The question becomes “do you really want to change your reality?”  Most of us want to get our families on solid financial footing, but most of us don’t have the guts to do it.  If you need a reason to face the numbers remember that most family arguments result from financial stress.  If you are single, or solely responsible for the income and outgo, it is a matter of being truthful with yourself.  If you are married, with the economy slipping away from all of us, there is no better time than now to have a sit down meeting with your spouse and get out all the bills.  It will save grief and anxiety in the long run.  If you are married with children, chances are some things can be cut out, but not without cries of “but everyone else” has this or that or does this or that.

Make the decision to create a budget.  That’s the first step.  Have the courage to face the truth.