human
What are the steps for creating a budget that works for me?
assistant
1. Establish your financial goals
 • decide what you want to save for or pay off first.
2. Calculate your total income
 • take into account any sources of regular income such as wages, benefits, or investments.
3. List all your expenses— fixed expenses like rent, utilities, and obligations like loan payments, as well as variable expenses like groceries and entertainment.
4. Assign a value to each expense
 • compare the importance of each expense to determine the amount you want to allot to it.
5. Track your spending
 • set up a system to record and monitor your purchases.
6. Adjust your budget
 • as needed to make sure your finances remain balanced and in line with your goals.