Problem: Article: Once you are fully aware of your debt situation, get a clear picture of your finances by creating a budget. This will inform you exactly what your revenues and expenses are and will help you create more savings to reduce debt.   List all your sources of income and add them up. Move on to list your necessities. These include essential needs that are due regularly like rent, utilities, car payments, food, communication, and debt repayments. Keep in mind that just because these are essential or fixed expenses does not mean that they cannot be greatly reduced to find savings. List your discretionary expenses. Discretionary expenses are costs that you can change or avoid altogether such as buying new clothing or eating dinner out. The best way to get an idea of these expenses is to look at your bank or credit card statements for a month, and add up all the expenses that are not in your fixed expenses category. If you want better accuracy, take an average over several months and use this figure. Subtract your total expenses from your revenue. This is how much you have left over, or alternatively, how much extra you can afford to pay down to your credit cards. . Try to figure out how to decrease your expenses each month so that you can use more funds to pay down your credit cards. Target primarily variable expenses listed in your budget to find ways to save money.  Make meals at home instead of eating out. Make coffee at home instead of buying expensive coffee drinks. Delay expenses that can wait for later, like new clothes. Borrow books, music, and movies from the public library instead of buying them. Do not forget to look into your fixed expenses category as well. Can you move into more affordable housing? Find a roommate? Walk more to spend less on gas? Use a less extravagant plan for your cell phone (perhaps only 1GB of data a month instead of 3GB)? Once you have lowered spending using the above tips, you should be able to free additional money each month. Apply some of that additional income to your credit cards and save some for an emergency.   For example, upon creation of your budget you may observe you make $1500 per month, and have $1400 a month in expenses. After implementing the savings tips (for example, you drop down to a cheaper phone plan, stop eating out, and start walking to do basic errands), you manage to find $300 in savings. You now have $400 in additional cash. Perhaps $300 can go to your credit card debt and $100 can go into emergency savings. Don't forget to look at your income too. Are there ways to boost your income? Perhaps you can work more hours, look for a better job, or get a part-time job for ten extra hours a week. Make a list of your balances, interest, and fees every month. Check for unanticipated fees and to make sure your payments have been received and credited to your account.
Summary: Create a monthly budget. Reduce your expenses Increase your credit card payments. Reassess your debt monthly.

Problem: Article: Take your steak out of the fridge and place it on the counter. Let the steak rest for about 1 hour until it reaches room temperature. Let your oven fully preheat as you finish preparing the steaks. Measure out about 1 teaspoon (4 ml) of groundnut or vegetable oil; it doesn’t have to be exact. Add the oil to a large, heavy-based frying pan and place the pan on a burner. Turn the heat to high and let the oil heat up until it shimmers. You can use any cooking oil that is flavorless if you don’t have vegetable or groundnut oil on hand. Use paper towels to soak up any moisture on the outside of your rump steak. Sprinkle both sides generously with the sea salt, adjusting the amount to your personal tastes as needed. Carefully lower the rump steak into the hot oil in the pan. Be careful not to splash the hot oil. Sear the first side for 3 minutes. You don’t need to stir or move the rump steak as it sears. Try not to splash the oil as you flip the steak over. You don’t need to stir or move the rump steak as it sears for another 3 minutes. Remove the steak from the heat. Use tongs to move it from the frying pan to a roasting pan. Put the roasting pan in the preheated oven. Remove the steak after the time elapses and place the roasting pan on a heat-safe surface. Be sure to season both sides of the steak. Cover the roasting pan loosely with aluminum foil. Let the rump steak rest at room temperature for 10 minutes before slicing and serving it. This rump steak serves 2 to 3 people, so you can slice it however you like, although thin slices usually work well. Serve the steak while it’s still warm with your choice of side dishes. Refrigerate leftover rump steak in an air-tight container and be sure to eat it within 3 days.
Summary: Bring the large rump steak to room temperature. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Add the oil to a medium-sized pan and heat it over high heat. Pat the steak dry and season it with the sea salt. Place the steak in the pan and cook the first side for 3 minutes. Flip the steak with tongs and sear the other side for 3 minutes. Transfer the steak to a roasting pan and bake for 10 to 15 minutes. Season with pepper and cover the steak with foil for 10 minutes. Slice the rump steak and serve immediately.

Problem: Article: The warm water of your shower softens your leg hair and opens your follicles, which makes shaving easier. Shave after your legs have been exposed to the water of your shower for about 10-15 minutes. Before you begin shaving, wash off your legs with soap and warm water to prevent any infections. Liberally apply shaving cream with your hands, making sure it’s fully covering the area of your leg that you want to shave. If you’re looking to really get a close shave, apply shaving cream with a shaving brush, which will help raise the hair up, so it’s better exposed during shaving. You’ll want to hold your razor at an angle that feels good to you, which is probably around 30 degrees. Make sure you’re holding the razor with the handle pointed down towards your toes. Shaving with the grain, or down the leg, is best for your first shave. Because your leg hair will be longer, going with the grain of your hair will reduce the possibility of irritation.  Shaving against the grain, or shaving up the leg, is okay once your leg hair is shorter. If you have sensitive skin, always shave with the grain, or down the leg. Shaving around the knee and ankle are the trickiest parts of shaving your legs for the first time. Go slowly and apply less pressure as you shave over these areas, so you don’t cut yourself. Be sure to rinse your razor every 2 to 3 strokes. If you continue shaving with shaving cream or hair that’s clogging the blades, you’ll be more likely to cut yourself. After you’ve finished shaving, rinse your legs off with cool water, which will close up your pores.
Summary:
Shave at the end of your shower. Wash off your legs with soap and water. Apply your shaving cream to your entire leg. Hold your razor lightly at a 30 degree angle to your leg. Shave with the grain. Go gently over the knee and ankle. Rinse your razor between strokes. Rinse your legs with cold water.