The budget

 One of the lessons I learned late in life is the importance of a budget.  Better late than never, eh?  The older I get, the more deliberately I spend my money.  I went through a period, I think most of us did except maybe my dad, that I just bought whatever I wanted whenever I wanted it. I got that from Mom in some ways, but that's another story all together.  Still, spending money like that, especially money I didn't have, put me in a financial bind several times in my life.  Credit cards are dangerous when you spend that way.  I do have a credit card again, but I use it much more smartly than I did twenty years ago.  Thank goodness!

Anyway, I have started to put myself on a stricter budget.  I have mapped out the areas that require money each paycheck. I decided to do it by paycheck instead of by month because sometimes I get 3 paychecks per month but mostly just 2. I have divided it into 4 areas:  bills, groceries, gas and miscellaneous. I look at the bills I will be paying out of this check and submit that total to my budget.  Then I give myself a limit for the other three. The goal is to not have to use my overdraft so that I can build up my savings. So far, I am doing well with it all and it is keeping me in line.  Let me tell you, not going on Ebay is pretty tough but oh well LOL.

I have several financial goals this year for my 50 at 50 list. One is to build up my savings to a certain amount.  Another is to pay off my credit card by a certain amount.  I know that with hard work and perseverance I can achieve both of these goals.  Another escapade in adulting!