This column by Michelle Singletary really gets at the meat of how to make a simple budget. (It’s basically what I do.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/01/10/easy-budget-no-app/
- Write down all the money that’s coming in.
- Write down all the money that’s going out.
- Set limits on your spending.
- Do the math. (I use Excel/Google spreadsheets for this.)
This format might not work for everyone – I have friends who swear by You Need A Budget (YNAB), for example – but it works pretty well for me.
Emilybook 