This should be a no-brainer for sensible folks out there in
Google-land, but for me, it's like climbing Mt Everest! I'm talking
about managing my day to day money. My husband and I are each self
employed and constantly busy and earn decent money between us.
However, we are in a real 'feast or famine' scenario here. We're
always running out of money in our bank account. We have no savings
and we can't rely on being paid regularly (it must be heaven to get a
regular pay cheque!) We aren't particularly extravagant, but I guess if
I'm honest I have to admit that we're both impulse buyers and we
always get cash out when we buy things on our cards and instead of
shopping weekly or even fortnightly, we shop for groceries most days.
When we get paid by our clients, everthing's sweet but there's always
a week or so when we're broke, and have to borrow money from my dear
Mum (we always pay her back of course) Are there any really good,
basic sites that show how dummies like us can budget and the processes
we should be going through in order to keep our bank balance in the
black? Nothing too complex and nothing that requires us to put money
aside on a weekly/fortnightly basis because we don't get paid that
way. Do you reckon you can help us be responsible people this New Year ... please?!

Hello -
 
Here are some links that may potentially assist you:
 
http://money.cnn.com/pf/101/
http://www.betterbudgeting.com/
http://www.personal-budget-planning-saving-money.com/
http://www.thebword.com/
http://www.lunaweb.com/cccs/ccbudg.htm
http://www.betterbudgeting.com/
http://www.rafcom.co.uk/financial/money_management.cfm
http://www.managingmymoney.com/
 
Search Strategy:
Better money management
Budgeting
Better Budgeting
Money Management
"How +to budget"
 
I feel this answer is fair at a $2.00 price point.  If you need
additional info/clarification, please ask before rating this answer.
 
jbf777-ga

Ouch! Was that a dig at the $2 price tag? It's a great answer
otherwise -- just the sort of thing I was after. Maybe this New Year's
resolution will have a longer shelf life that previous ones. Thanks
very much.

Oh, not at all... It's just that some people have various
interpretations as to what is fair at various price points, so I make
sure to clarify things if I feel there may be a question. :)  Thanks
for the rating.
 
jbf777-ga
Google Answers

Everyone should have a few thousand in liquid assets, to take care of
lean times, unexpected necessities, to take advantage of early payment
bonuses, avoid late charges and barrowing costs and to purchace
bargain items you will really need soon. To produce that surplus
quickly, you need to deprive your self for a while by purchacing only
goods and sevices that you really, really need. This will be painful,
but with good luck the thrift habit will be establihed sufficiently,
by a few months of doing this that you will be able to maintain your
buffer fund long term with little thought or effort.  Neil