The Numbers Don't Add Up:

You have more budget than you have paycheck. Generally, this is caused by not being realistic in your budget. You try to make your paycheck fit your budget.

Answer: Start by listing your household expenses and bills. Then include 10% of your income for long and short term savings. If this total is more than your paycheck, you have to cut back. Start by looking at your household budget. Are there items that you can do without? If you have money left over after considering all of above, then increase your savings.

Unexpected Expenses: This can be from your car breaking down, need a new washer or any number of other expenses that you can't predict.

Answer: While long term savings is for things such as a home or car purchase or college for kids, short term savings is just as vital to your financial security. A short term savings will accomplish two things. It will provide you with money you need to pay those unexpected expenses and it will cut down on use of credit cards. The short term savings could save you hundreds of dollars a year.

When you develop your budget, keep following things in mind:

1. Make your budget a simple as possible 2. Get family involved. 3. Make your budget fit your paycheck, not other way around. 4. Plan for unexpected. 5. Visit The Complete Budget and Bill Organizer for more details

If you're in a non-critical circumstance but still need to say "no" (such as invariable plea to stay up a little longer), try going sideways: "On weekend, you can stay up till 10:00, but only if you go to sleep right now".

By using "no" less often, it will be taken more seriously by kids when you do say it. In same way, your qualified yes gives child what she wants ("yes, you can paint") as well as what you want ("as soon as we put away these puzzle pieces"). Tasks assigned with your proviso should be done together as much as possible, to keep your positive-negative positive, non?