Just wanted to share this great find:
I read about a neat product called BUDGETMAP on this forum.....it's a checkbook register, but it folds out and has room for all your catergories...housing, gas, clothes, bills, personal care, gifts, whatever you use. The idea is that as you spend, you write it down, and keep track of your categories that way (instead of using an excel spreadsheet with categories or an online program). Anyway, I wanted to get budget map for a long time.....but it's $35, which I wasn't prepared to spend on a system I wasn't even sure would work out for me (in the end, it's a great system for me)
So I did some googling, and tried to come up with a DIY version or something and found something very similar for $2.00: it's a checkbook register from the Montana State U. Extension office with room to put in your categories.... it definetely doesn't have as much room for different categories as budget map, but it's a great system for those of you like me who prefer paper and pen. I like paper and pen, because when I'm at a store, I write it down right then, and don't have to remember to transfer it later to excel or another paper.
you can see how it works here:
http://msuextension.org/publications/FamilyFinancialManagement/MT198703HR.pdf
hope this is helpful to someone!
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