These 2 tools will help you create your "real budget" and then manage your income and expenses to ensure that you can "live within your means" which is essential to having success at becoming debt free.What you'll see first below is a sample budget I have prepared to show you what to do. I created it using an Excel document so that the numbers automatically added up to the totals. If you know how to use Excel you can do the same thing. Otherwise just use this as a guide for creating your personal real budget with your numbers. Below the budget creation tool you will see the management tool. It too is a sample based on the sample budget. Again that was built using Excel and it is a great way to make things simple. If you can re-create it on Excel, that will make it easier. However, if you cannot use Excel then just use mine as an example of what you need to have. In that case I suggest buying an 18 column accountants spreadsheet at an office supply store and build it manually. I always make certain that the balance in the lower right corner pf the management tool equals the balance in my checkbook.