 TITLE: Create a College Budget Plan in 4 Easy Steps CONTENT: Track Your Spending and Income\n------------------------------\nUnderstanding your income and regular expenses is half the battle. The other half is actually implementing your budget in real life. Your budget will do you no good if it's not adhered to. As part of your budgeting process, think through how you'll track your income and expenses as the year unfolds.\nYou can use good old pen and paper to keep track of expenses and\/or create a simple spreadsheet that shows your income and expenses. You can also use your online banking app to stay on top of transactions. Checking your account activity frequently for fraudulent charges is a good idea anyway.\nYou might also consider using a personal finance app or tool to track income and spending. If you have a free Experian account or sign up for one, you can use Experian's free personal finance tool to track your spending across multiple accounts. The tool even categorizes your transactions so you can easily match your spending against your budget. Depending on where you do your banking, you may have access to personal finance features built right into your bank's website or mobile app.\nCurious about your options? Learn more about tracking expenses and the tools that make it easier. END