The Budget Kit: The Common Cents Money Management Workbook

If you are looking at these reviews I think its safe to assume you've tried and failed at budgeting, whether it be self monitoring or a grandiose computer program, i.e., Money and Quicken. I've ued them both and keep coming back to this Workbook, because it works on several levels!"Know Thyself". You have to ask yourself what am I trying to accomplish in my budgeting.You have to have your own system to manage you spending habits, which could be keeepng reciepts and entering them daily or weekly receipts. For me, this was entering my expenses daily or every other day at the most. You don't have to boot up your computer and its not a chore. Place the workbook on your nightstand and pencil it in for your daily expenses. This sounds like a hassle but it takes 1 minute tops daily. Couple that with setting up a budget for your fixed expenses at the beginning of the month (15 minutes)and your set.Another great addition is that this workbook helps you budget for one-time expenses, christmas gifts,a nd on an on. If you don't want to go into this much detail, then don't. Pick something you know you can stick to and graduate from there.Ultimately, this book achieves where all computer progrmas fail. Accessibility, reality, and ease. Come'on I know what your thinkng "what if I want expense reports" we've all become LAZY! Its good to break out a calculator and get those brain juices going or you can plug your reports in Excel--see that computer is good for SOMETHING.

I bought this book for my 24 year old son who is starting to earn his own money. Knowing that the proper handling of money is critical to a secure and successful future, I wanted to give him a chance to start with basics. This book contains good information for someone who is starting to earn money and since the advice is not coming from mom or dad, it is accepted easier. Ms. Lawrence gives enough information so that a person can allocate money for "needs" and "wants". She includes some great forms that can be copied and completed, allowing a person to set goals in different categories, and then track their expenses, income and savings. I would recommend this book as a starting point to allow a person to get their finances on track. Once they develop confidence in their ability to manage their money, they can use their savings to invest. But thats the subject for other books...

I have about 6 of these all filled up from years past. This is a complete book and covers every aspect of managing your money. I can use online budget resources, but I like being able to pull out last years book and see how may expenses have changed. I am 74 and have used budged book and quick books and others; Unless you write down every penny you spend for a few months you have no idea where your money is going. You do not have to do it every month once you know EXACTLY where you spend it. This is a simple, visual way to look at your finances.

This kit really helped me turn my overspending around, simply by laying it all out helpfully on a page. I've used copies of this book for seven years; for the first few years I filled out the budget-planning worksheets and all that, but for the past few years I've only been using the monthly expenditures worksheets, which are worth their weight in gold. They tell you where the money actually went, helpfully broken down into a lot of categories. There's a double spread in the back where you can track your expenses in each category across the year (and I've added in my averages from the previous 6 years, so I can really track across time). This alone is such a great motivator! So I think this is an incredibly useful book even for those who don't want or need the various specialty worksheets on debt, assets, and so forth. It makes managing money easy and, dare I say it, fun.

I love this workbook. It’s amazing. It really forces you to write down *everything*. Those of us who have had our head in the sand about money can get it out and really get a full picture. Getting the full picture won’t make us depressed either, because Judy is so good at encouraging people to make better habits and set goals. The only disagreement I had was the section that described divorce as a financial catastrophe. My divorce was actually not a financial hardship at all. What messed up my finances completely was 2 years later when I went back to college.

First time in my life doing my budget!!! Its super clear, organized, explains you step by step what you need to do, has a loot of work sheets. Teaches you how to save money, prioritize, pay your debts, and plan ahead of the expenses , so, as the author states: YOU SHOULD BE PROACTIVE WITH YOUR FINANCES AND NOT REACTIVE. Definitely the best budgeting book I've ever bought!! Would recommend it to all my friends and relatives who are complaining about their financial situation. What really happens many times, says the author is that people don't live according with their situation, often spending compulsively. its really changing the way I look into money and finances!!!

With your finances. I recommend this workbook to all of those looking to master their debt and track their spending. The first step to financial success is to monitor spending and then subsequently control and pay down debt. This workbook allows you to get "down and dirty" with your day-to-day expenses and really see where your money is going. I also really like the various budgeting and net-worth tracking components. There are also helpful tips throughout the book to gain financial empowerment. I highly recommend this book and would encourage whoever purchases it to try the Mvelopes CD for the online budgeting system. I also think this workbook would be beneficial for teens and pre-teens to get a better handle on money and debt management.

This is my 5th year using his guide. Absolutely the BEST Budget guide I have found. She leaves nothing out! I highly recommend.

Great for beginning personal and family budget managers...Might be a perfect resource for showing youth 14-19 how to manage their money.

I enjoy the easy flow and style of her writing. Easy to understand.