Having fun Christmas shopping? Well, once Christmas is over, it’s time to transition back to a normal daily routine. Don’t sigh, though! This is also a time where you can start fresh and make your money work for you! Here are some key points in developing and sticking to your budget this month:

Write it down. A budget is not a form of medieval torture! It is YOUR game plan, where you tell your money what YOU want it to do. This isn’t rocket science! Just give every dollar a name on paper. Get free budgeting forms.
Stay away from places that tempt you to spend. If you have a problem sticking to a budget, it could be that you are immature. It could also be that you can’t stay out of the mall! Know where you tend to spend the most money and don’t tempt yourself!
Get out those envelopes. Try the envelope system. Take some envelopes, write the budget categories on the envelopes, and use only the allotted money to purchase specific things. If an envelope is empty, don’t buy anything else in that budget category. Easy as pie.
Stay motivated! Don’t give up! A budget is there to help you. It is a tool you use because you have hope that your financial situation can and will get better. One thing that can steal your hope is dwelling on the failures of the past or the fear that you will never get to the end. To avoid this, break your plan down into smaller goals. You can change your financial picture. You can change your family tree. Stay motivated!