Step 4           Keep a record of your expenses. What you save falls between two activities and their difference: how much you make and how much you spend. Since you have more control over how much you spend, it's wise to take a critical look at your expenses. Write down everything you spend your money on for a couple weeks or a month. Be as detailed as possible, and try not to leave out small purchases. Assign each purchase or expenditure a category such as: Rent, Car insurance, Car payments, Phone Bill, Cable Bill, Utilities, Gas, Food, Entertainment, etc.

• Keep a small notebook with you at all times. Get in the habit of recording every expense and saving the receipts.
• Sit down once a week with your small notebook and receipts. Record your expenses in a larger notebook or a spreadsheet program.