I need to copy this, memorize, then staple to my forehead.

Whole article is really good. Budgeting 101.

The Budget Toolbox: 13 Tools for Building a Better Budget ∞ Get Rich Slowly:

"...Andrew Tobias offers the following simple yet effective budget:

1. Destroy all your credit cards.
2. Invest 20% of all that you earn. Never touch it.
3. Live on the remaining 80%, no matter what.

Although Tobias is being glib, this is actually an excellent system. If you can develop the discipline to follow just these three steps, you can become rich."

This budget format works too. [Same article.]:"...you must keep three broad areas of your finances “in balance”. They say to divide your net income (after-tax income) as follows:

* Allocate 50% to Needs (which the authors call Must-Haves). Needs include housing, transportation, groceries, insurance, and clothes you really need.
* Spend 30% on Wants. Wants include cable television, clothing beyond the basics, restaurant meals, concert tickets, comic books, knitting supplies, etc.
* Set aside 20% for Savings, including debt repayment.

This budget is designed so that you can save a lot and have fun. To achieve this, the authors encourage you to reduce your Needs. In fact, reducing Needs is the cornerstone of their advice."