If you�ve lost control of your finances, creating a budget can help you get back on track. We all need to budget in our lives to have a better quality of life. Then, you won�t lose sleep, wondering how you�ll pay your bills.

Start by listing out everything you spend. You�ll need to work out how much you spend on:

• household bills
• living costs, like clothes, school or work costs
• financial products, like insurance, bank charges or interest
• family and friends, this could include gifts, travel to events like weddings
• travel, car costs like fuel and MOT tests as well as public transport
• leisure, including TV subscriptions, meals out or other entertainment.

It�s also a good idea to get everyone in your family involved with keeping to a budget.

Sit down together and make a plan that you can all stick to.

Split your costs into wants and needs and agree between you what you�ll each have to spend. If you can�t afford all your wants, decide what matters most to you or look at ways of cutting costs.