SECTION THREE

now that you’re ready, some simple budgeting advice

The main focus of this book has been on changing your attitudes toward money—not on teaching you how to build a budget. To some extent, this is the book you should read before you get into the nitty-gritty of financial planning.

That being said, it is helpful to know what kind of plan is right for you and, once you choose one, how to use it most effectively. The next few chapters give some general advice. We’ll cover how to think about your spending plan (which is a phrase I like to use instead of budget—I’ll explain in the next chapter). Chapter 11 is dedicated to the how-to’s of paying off debt. In chapter 12 we talk about how to hold yourself accountable. And in the final chapter, I’ll share some helpful money-saving tips from my own research and experience.

Laid on top of a solid set of attitudes, these practical things will make a tremendous impact on your financial life.