Do you live on a budget? If so how is it going? Like does it really work?!

Do you live on a budget? If so how is it going? Like does it really work?

we live on a very tight budget, have to with my husband the only one with income and three children. I have been doing so for three years now and its very simple and it does work. Nothing fancy, I've tried all the free programs on the web and those are all so confusing. Basically I get out the ole pen and paper and write down all the bills and how much we owe monthly on them (I usually round up to the nearest dollar) then I figure out when each is due. Then I make a calender thing I write down every Friday of the month (since thats pay day) and what bills can be paid without be late and how much. I try to spend the same amount every week so we know what to expect. The remaining of it has to be spent for groceries, entertainment gas, etc. Everything gets paid on time and I have even made money by doing this. I average 50$ a month for gas bill per say, well some months gas bill is only 10$ so the extra 40$ that I averaged into the budget goes into savings. Over the past 3 years we have saved 235.00 just by doing this. Also, I ALWAYS put 15$ a week into our savings account in case of emergencies..your budget doesn't get thrown out of wack. Seems pretty simple and it is, and has worked for me and my family. Another thing that helps is if you can contact some companies (like phone, electric) and ask to be put on average billing so you always know what to expect. Hope that helps.