{"id":416,"date":"2009-09-28T05:50:56","date_gmt":"2009-09-27T23:50:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/professional-organizer.com\/WordPress\/?p=416"},"modified":"2009-09-28T05:50:56","modified_gmt":"2009-09-27T23:50:56","slug":"making-the-most-of-your-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/professional-organizer.com\/WordPress\/making-the-most-of-your-money\/","title":{"rendered":"Making the most of your money"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><strong><\/strong><\/div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;\" lang=\"EN\">Wondering about a budget? Here are some ideas to get you started! <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\">Getting Started<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\">Create a list of monthly expenses. Write down a list of all the expected expenses.\u00a0 This includes your mortgage payment, car payments, auto and home insurance, groceries, utilities, entertainment, dry cleaning, retirement or college savings and everything else that is money spent.\u00a0 These are the big ticket items. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\">Record ALL your spending. Write down all your expenses, both credit and cash in a daily log.\u00a0 Doing this will make you think twice about unnecessary expenses, just like keeping a food diary makes you aware of every bite you take! After a month, review what you have spent your money on and ask yourself the true value of it.\u00a0 Review this with your partner and confer on what is important, valued and prioritized.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt;\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt;\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\">Look for ways to make small saving add up.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent: 0.35in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.15in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .15in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\"><span style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Make dinner out a once a week splurge!\u00a0 Bring your lunch to work and pack your kids\u2019 lunches.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent: 0.35in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.15in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .15in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\"><span style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Curtail your afternoon coffee stop at Starbucks, stops for beverages like soda, and bring your own water in a non disposable container. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent: 0.35in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.15in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .15in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\"><span style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Shop for clothes and household furnishings at resale and consignments shops. Need a holiday dress for your little girl? It is much cheaper at consignment than a major department store. Pick up furniture or other large items at Craigslist.com<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent: 0.35in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.15in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .15in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\"><span style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Keep your home warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter.\u00a0 You can save 5%\u201315% on your cooling bills by raising the temperature setting on your thermostat when you are away and don&#8217;t need cooling.\u00a0 Keep your thermostat at 78 in the summer and 68 in the winter. Have your AC\/Heat checked twice a year to be sure it is operating properly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent: 0.35in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.15in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .15in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\"><span style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Do chores you are paying someone else to do, like mow your lawn or clean your house.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent: 0.35in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.15in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .15in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\"><span style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Minimize your dry cleaning expense.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\">Bigger savings on big ticket items<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent: 0.35in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.15in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .15in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Symbol; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\"><span style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\">Trade in your car for a less expensive model or purchase a used car instead of new. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent: 0.35in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.15in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .15in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Symbol; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\"><span style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\">Reduce larger expenses by eliminating season tickets to ball games or musical events.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent: 0.35in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.15in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .15in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Symbol; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\"><span style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\">Refinance your mortgage with the new lower rates.\u00a0 If new mortgages are costing at least two percentage points less than the rate you&#8217;re paying, refinancing may save you significant dollars.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent: 0.35in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.15in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .15in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Symbol; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\"><span style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\">Increase your deductible on your insurance. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\">Some ideas for percentages for the budget<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent: 0.35in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .15in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\"><span style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Savings 10%<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent: 0.35in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .15in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\"><span style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Mortgage 25 &#8211; 30%<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent: 0.35in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .15in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\"><span style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Household expenses of utilities 10-15%<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent: 0.35in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .15in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\"><span style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Other obligations (debt\/tithing) 10%<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent: 0.35in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .15in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\"><span style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Insurance, medical care 10- 15%<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent: 0.35in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .15in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\"><span style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Auto payment, car care, gas 10%<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-indent: 0.35in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .15in;\"><span style=\"font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;\"><span style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\">\u00b7<span style=\"font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;\">Recreation and entertainment 5% <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\">Once you have found ways to make your expenses at least 10% less than your income, create an automatic deduction each month that sweeps that 10% into a savings account. Now you are on track to be a stay at home mom! <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; color: blue; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\">Cultivate a mindset of less is more.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;\">Accumulating stuff, whether it is a luxury auto, designer clothes or a big abode, takes its toll.\u00a0 We have more to take care of and it ends up as a burden instead of a blessing.\u00a0 Cultivating a mindset of <em>less is more<\/em> is thinking through the whether that \u201cstuff\u201d is more important than relationships. In creating our family, we should decide on our values and mission and create priorities as a result. Is your mission to have your children raised in a one income family with a stay at home mom or dad? It will take valuing that goal above all else to make it happen. It is in having less stuff, fewer expenses, a smaller home, less extravagant autos, and more about relationships, that we can accomplish this mission.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wondering about a budget? Here are some ideas to get you started! \u00a0 Getting Started Create a list of monthly expenses. Write down a list of all the expected expenses.\u00a0 This includes your mortgage payment, car payments, auto and home insurance, groceries, utilities, entertainment, dry cleaning, retirement or college savings and everything else that is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[76,9],"tags":[73,72,75,74,71],"class_list":["post-416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-financial-organizing","category-organizing-skills","tag-budget","tag-finances","tag-less-is-more","tag-making-the-most-of-your-money","tag-money"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Making the most of your money - Ellen&#039;s Blog, Professional Organizing for Kingwood &amp; Houston<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/professional-organizer.com\/WordPress\/making-the-most-of-your-money\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Making the most of your money - Ellen&#039;s Blog, Professional Organizing for Kingwood &amp; Houston\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Wondering about a budget? Here are some ideas to get you started! \u00a0 Getting Started Create a list of monthly expenses. 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