The following blog is by Brittney Castro originally published in Brittney Castro’s Blog – Financially Wise Women.

Did you know that only 1 in 3 Americans prepare a budget every month to track their income and expenses?*

That means a majority of people–two-thirds of us, in fact–do not use a budget to track their money.

However, if you want to pay off your debt–or save for a big trip, home down payment or wedding and achieve overall financial independence–you need to understand that a budget is the foundation for reaching these goals.

I know what you’re thinking: “Brittney, budgets are so boring, stressful and hard to follow, and I don’t want to give up my coffee every morning!” Look, I get it, but I also know that in order to become aware of your money and spending and saving habits, you must learn how to budget effectively. To help you budget more effectively, watch this video, where I share some great tips on how to budget in a fun and simple way.

Also, check out my budget tool, which you can purchase to help you track your income and expenses every month.

You can get it here—>http://www.financiallywisewomen.com/products/

Sending you lots of budget love this week!

*SOURCE: http://www.gallup.com/poll/162872/one-three-americans-prepare-detailed-household-budget.aspx

About the author: Brittney Castro, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ is the Founder and CEO of Financially Wise Women, a Los Angeles based financial planning firm for women. She specializes in working with busy professional and entrepreneurial women who are passionate about life and want to gain clarity around their money. Brittney’s mission is to help women plan and create the life of their dreams, free from anxiety about money. She is known for her non-judgmental, compassionate approach to financial planning. She has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Financial Planning Magazine, Investment News, and Registered Rep Magazine. Away from the office, you can find Brittney working out, drinking green juice, reading, playing at the park with her dog Arya and of course dancing. Visit her at http://www.financiallywisewomen.com and request a FREE 30-minute Discovery Session to discuss how financial planning can help you use your money to live a life you love. Financially Wise Women is a registered investment adviser offering advisory services in the State of California and in other jurisdictions where exempted.