1. The usual first stage in any budgeting regime is to keep detailed daily records of every penny you spend. This is seriously dull but less bother than it seems. Yes, you have to write down everything. And yes, you have to be honest. Knowing where your money is going is a necessary first step to channelling it where you want it to go. Once you have done that for a fortnight or more you can review it, do some adding up and prepare to be amazed.
2. The second stage is to draw up a weekly or monthly budget that allocates all the necessary expenditure, and identifies what is left for personal spending. A common discovery here is that luxuries cost more than basics. Even a modest night on the town can take a big chunk of weekly income. Use the information from the records to help spot and eliminate any impulsive purchases. Then the task is to prioritise and to accept some financial realities. Try to include an element, however small, of regular savings.
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