Some people can go ahead and buy new pants when they need them. In my sad budget, I have to actually put money aside for a purchase of this magnitude, in minuscule, bi-weekly increments. Weeks later, when I have almost amassed enough, I invariably fuck it all up by deciding,

Do you know where your money is going?

Before you start to think about creating a spending plan, debt payment plan, and/or savings plan it is critical to know where your money is currently going. It is hard to look at it sometimes, and most people are surprised to see how much they spend in certain areas.