[katiesue]

online banking helps me to keep track of things. It's not as detailed as keeping a journal or anything but I only have one account and use my check card for most of my purchases. It's easy to see vons $20, Target $40 etc to give you a basic idea of where the money's going. And I don't really have to do anything.

I do a spreadsheet every once in a while (I suck at money too). I have friends who are really good with money but their methods don't seem to rub off on me. I had one person who was helping me budget but she kept using my gross pay not my actual take home, then took taxes out. It's much easier for me to keep track of what my actual paycheck amount is and go from there.

And I hear you with the rent - mine is outrageous but I stay because I'm in Maddy's school district so I don't have to worry about transfers etc.

I'm trying to pay down some of the debt (I can't help it if Bloomingdales loves me) so that hopefully by next summer I'll have some saved for a down on a new car - or newer car doesn't have to be brand new.

I guess for me it helps to put in a basic spreadsheet what my expenes are - rent, gas, electricity etc to see what I've got left. Then add in for groceries, fun and put the rest toward the debt.