Have you ever heard the saying “Your priorities are highlighted in your calendar and your checkbook”?  What you put on your calendar shows what you spend your time and effort on and even a stranger can tell what your priorities are from looking at the activity in your bank account.

Leave something off of your calendar and it could cause problems.   Example:  I had forgotten to write my best friend’s wedding anniversary on my calendar.  I was talking to him on the phone that very day but didn’t realize it until three days later when my wife had asked if we sent them a card.  He was very forgiving but, really, how embarrassing!

That lesson re-emphasized the need to write things down.  Everyone can tell you that creating a grocery list is not only efficient but helps you get out of the store faster (and lighter).  And taking notes during a meeting turns the short-term into a long-term memory.  And who would say that you’re wasting your time with a “to do” list?  And a budget is like a to-do list.  If you create a list of monthly expenses before the month begins you will find that your spending habits will change (so long as you look at it).   A budget is telling your money what to do instead of wondering where it went – it’s self control on paper.

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But may people will tell you that they don’t do a budget.  Some financial experts, like David Bach in his book “The Automatic Millionaire“, say that you don’t need a budget.  Sure, you might get through life without ever using a budget, but you will most likely spend more, pay more, or save less because you didn’t look ahead – you didn’t have a plan for your money.

All throughout the 80’s and early 90’s I bought the things I wanted, did things when I wanted, and felt like I hit the jackpot when my checkbook actually balanced.  At this moment I am surrounded by hundreds of those “great” purchases, two walls full of vinyl records.  Oh what an investment!  And I made an aisle in the next room in order to get to one of three walls full of CD’s.  At least THEY aren’t obsolete (not yet).

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Wasted money is a wasted opportunity.  Greater things are accomplished when you have a plan and write things down, whether it be on the calendar, a to-do list, or a budget.

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If you have never created a budget before then I recommend you visit http://daveramsey.com/tools/budget-forms/ or http://lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for free budgeting tools and blank forms.