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A carpenter uses a set of house plans for a house to build. If it's not the bathroom can get overlooked altogether. Rocket Scientists would never begin construction on a new booster rocket without a full set of design standards. But most of us go blindly into the world without a hint of an idea about finances and without any plan. Not very smart of us, is it? A plan of the money is called a budget and it is essential to our desired financial goals.

Without a plan we will drift without direction and end up stranded on a distant reef financial. If you have a spouse or relative, you should make this budget together. Sit down and figure out what your joint financial goals are long term  and short term. Then plan your route to these goals. Every journey begins with one step and the first step to achieving your goals is a realistic budget that both can live with them.

A budget should never be a financial starvation diet. It will not work for the long term. Make reasonable allowances for food, clothing, housing, utilities and insurance and set aside a reasonable amount for entertainment and the occasional luxury item. Savings should always come first before any spending. Even a small amount saved will help long-term and short term financial goals. You can find many budget forms on the Internet. Just use a search engine you choose and the type of "free budget forms". You get a lot of hits. Print one and work on it with your spouse or significant other. Both of you will be satisfied with the final result and feel it is something you can hold.