 TITLE: How to Track Your Expenses CONTENT: Why You Should Create a Budget\n------------------------------\nYou often hear about the importance of creating a budget. But why should it be a key part of your financial plan? Establishing a budget, and then sticking to it, allows you to:\n*   **Spend less than what you earn.** Living within your means is much easier to do if you have a budget. Without one, you might not fully understand whether you're overspending—or just how much your overspending might be costing you.\n*   **Reduce debt.** A budget helps you identify essential and nonessential expenses, an exercise that lets you spot areas where you can trim spending and allocate that money to slash your debt.\n*   **Set aside money.** Relying on a budget puts you on the path toward saving money for a variety of purposes, such as bulking up your retirement accounts or adding to an emergency fund.\n*   **Realize your financial goals.** Is there a bucket-list trip in your future? Do you want to have enough money to send your kids to college? A budget can help you accomplish these and other financial goals. END