A budget is at the foundation of any financial plan, but unfortunately, most people don't take the time to create a budget, or have a difficult time following one. While it can be a bit daunting to sit down and go through all of your expenses and find out where you're money is going, that is the only way to completely understand your finances. Without knowing how much money you have coming in and how much is going out, and where it's going, it will be that much harder to get ahead.
Here is a basic introduction to budgeting. Once you learn the basics, you can head over to the step-by-step instructions for creating your own budget. It won't be long and you'll have a better understanding of where you're money goes, and how you can cut back so that you can fund your important financial goals.