| How to Use a Clay Bar Posted: 07 Dec 2018 12:00 AM PST Auto detailing clay is used to remove dust, dirt, industrial fallout, acid rain, and other contaminants from your car's exterior surfaces. Known as "claying," the process removes particles that stick to the clay when it is rubbed along the car's surface. "Claying" is most commonly used on paint, but also works on glass, fiberglass, and metal. When done properly, "claying" is non-abrasive and should not damage your car. EditPrepping Your Car and the Clay - Wash and dry your car by hand before "claying" it. Remove as much of the dirt, grime, and other contaminants from the surface as possible. This will make "claying" go much more quickly.[1]
- Don't use an automatic car wash, because they tend to leave behind a lot of soap residue and other contaminants. In fact, most auto detailers will likely tell you to never use automatic car washes.
- Buy a fine grade clay bar with its matching lubricating spray. Clay bars come in 2 main categories—"fine" and "medium"—although some brands have additional sub-categories (e.g., "ultra fine"). Fine grade bars should remove most surface contaminants and any wax, but are less likely to mar the paint finish than medium grade bars.[2]
- In the hands of an experienced auto detailer, medium grade bars usually won't result in any marring, and can remove a great deal of contamination from a car that's gone years without a "claying." However, especially if you're a novice "clayer," a fine grade bar is the safer bet.
- If the clay bar kit doesn't come with a bottle of lubricating spray, buy a bottle that is the same brand as the bar. They'll be in the same section of the auto supply store.
- Buy a bar for 1 car, or cut a larger bar. Clay bars usually come in sizes ranging from . The size is more than enough for 1 car, and is a very manageable piece of clay to work with.[3]
- If you buy a larger bar, you can cut it into sections with a sharp knife and seal up the pieces you don't need for later use. For example, you can cut a bar into 3 pieces, use 1 now, and seal the other 2 in zip-close bags.
- Squeeze the clay in your hand until it's a pliable disc. The warmth of your hands will soften the clay as you work it back and forth into a ball shape. Once it softens up, flatten it into a circular shape that is about thick.[4]
- At this thickness, of clay will create a disc that's roughly equal to 3-4 finger widths—which is a perfect size for "claying."
Edit"Claying" the First Car Section - Spray clay lubricant over a section of car. Spray generously, so that the area is not just misted, but saturated. Also spray the clay disc lightly for extra lubrication.[5]
- Start at a cleaner area of the car--like the roof or hood--and work your way to the dirtier areas--the front bumper, the bottoms of the door panels, etc. Your clay won't get filled with debris as quickly this way.
- While some "clayers" claim that water works fine as a lubricant, you'll likely get much better results if you use the lubricating spray that either comes with or matches the brand of your chosen clay bar.
- Never "clay" a dry car. You'll end up with bits of clay stuck all over the surface, and any contaminants will likely scratch the finish.
- Slide the clay back and forth gently over the lubricated area. Flatten your hand and pin the clay disc against the car with your fingers. Rub side-to-side or up-and-down, using just enough pressure to keep the clay from falling out of your hand. Add more lubricant if the clay sticks while you're trying to slide it.[6]
- You'll hear and feel the clay picking up contaminants as it slides over the surface. You may even notice some slight resistance at first due to the contaminants, in spite of the lubricating spray.
- Don't rub in a circular motion. This is more likely to create scratches from contaminants embedded in the clay.
- Check the clay, then keep working over the same area. After a few passes over the sprayed area, check the surface of the clay. If it's full of contaminants, fold the clay disc over and flatten it out so you have a clean surface. Then, add a quick spray of lubricant to the clay and continue rubbing the same section of the car.[7]
- Repeat this process until you don't feel, hear, or see any contaminants being picked up.
- Wipe the lubricant off the car with a clean microfiber towel. The paint should be as smooth as a sheet of glass. Run your finger over it to confirm this. If it isn't super smooth, "clay" the area again.[8]
- Wipe the area thoroughly, but not aggressively. You just need to remove the remaining lubricating spray.
EditContinuing the Job Section-by-Section - Fold the clay over to create a clean surface for the next section. Fold the clay in half and reshape it into a disc. Examine the clay surface to make sure there aren't any contaminants on the surface. If there are, fold it over again. Spray it lightly with lubricant once you have a clean surface.[9]
- A bar of clay should last for 3-4 "clayings" before it's overloaded with contaminants. However, once you can't find a clean surface in the clay, it's time to discard it.
- If you spot a larger piece of contamination in the clay, pick it out with your fingers, then fold the clay over.
- Always discard the clay if you drop it on the ground. It will pick up too many large pieces of debris to be useful.
- Spray and "clay" an adjacent section that overlaps the first. Your second section should overlap the first by several inches/centimeters. Spray it liberally with lubricant, and add a bit of lubricant to the clean section of your clay disc. Then, as before, rub the clay very gently over the new section in either an up-and-down or side-to-side motion.[10]
- Check your clay disc regularly for built-up debris, and fold it over to create a clean surface as needed.
- When the clay stops picking up contaminants, wipe the excess lubricant off the car with a clean microfiber cloth.
- Continue "claying" the car section by section until the job is done. Keep overlapping each new section over the previous one by several inches/centimeters, and keep checking your clay disc regularly for excess contaminant buildup. If you can no longer create a clean clay surface, grab a new clay bar to finish the job.[11]
- You can also "clay" plastic and chrome areas, as well as the windows—basically everything but the tires!
- Apply a coat of wax or sealant after "claying" the whole car. Follow the instructions on the packaging of the clay bar and the wax or sealant. Waxing or sealing protects the paint from corrosion that can form in the tiny holes that had been previously filled with contaminants before "claying."[12]
- "Clay" your car again when contaminants build up on the surface. If you're using a fine grade clay bar, you can clean your car with it as often as monthly. Limit "claying" with medium grade bars to 1-2 times per year, though, in order to protect the car's finish.[13]
- If it's not exposed to excessive amounts of contamination, you may need to "clay" a car that's kept outside 4 times per year. A car that's kept in a garage most of the time may only need "clayed" 1-2 times per year.
- "Claying" removes surface contaminants, but it will not remove swirls or scratches in your car's paint.
- Using a spray on wax in between "claying" helps keep the wax sheen on the paint. The wax helps keep contaminants out of the paint.
EditThings You'll Need - Auto detergent and car washing supplies
- Auto detailing clay bar
- Clay lubricant spray
- Clean microfiber towels
- Auto wax or sealant
EditSources and Citations EditQuick Summary
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| How to Decorate a Cake with Strawberries Posted: 06 Dec 2018 04:00 PM PST Some of the best cake decorations are the simplest ones, and you can't get any simpler (or tastier) than strawberries. They work great with just about any cake, including sponge cake, mousse cake, or cheesecake. The most traditional design uses strawberries and white buttercream, but you can also use strawberry or chocolate frosting. EditFrosting the Cake - Allow the cake to cool completely if you just baked it. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes first, then take it out of the pan. Allow it to finish cooling on a wire rack. How long this takes depends on the thickness of the cake as well as the temperature in the kitchen. It can take 15 to 60 minutes.[1]
- If you wish to slice the cake so that you can fill it, do so after you remove it from the pan. A sliced cake will cool a lot faster!
- Spread frosting onto the first layer if you're making a layered cake. Scoop your desired buttercream frosting onto the first layer, then spread it around with a cake decorating spatula. Make the frosting layer between thick.
- If you bought a pre-baked sponge cake, slice it in half or into thirds first.
- Add your desired fillings, then set the second layer on top. Jam and sliced strawberries work especially well for this, but you can also try other fillings, such as custard, a mixture of different berries, or mousse.
- Spread the filling as close to the edges of the cake as possible.
- For a richer cake, apply buttercream to the underside of the second layer, then sandwich sliced strawberries between the 2 layers.
- Press down on the second layer hard enough so that it sticks to the filling, but not so hard that the filling oozes out.
- Apply the frosting to the top and sides of the cake. Scoop a thick layer of frosting on top of the cake, then smooth it out with a cake decorating spatula. Next, scoop more frosting onto the sides of the cake, and smooth them out as well.[2]
- Run a cake decorating comb around the sides of the cake to give it more texture. The comb looks like a rectangle with teeth cut into 1 side.
- Refrigerate the cake to set the frosting. While the frosting is setting, get started on preparing the strawberries. By the time you are done washing, hulling, and slicing the strawberries, the frosting will be ready.[3]
- There is no specific amount of time that the frosting should set. You just want it to be firm enough so that it can hold the strawberries.
EditCreating a Simple Design - Wash and hull the strawberries, then cut them into thin, vertical slices. Choose nice, cone-shaped strawberries, and rinse them with cool water. Pat them dry with a towel, then cut off the leafy green parts. Slice the strawberries vertically, from pointy tip to flat bottom with a sharp knife.[4]
- Make the slices about thick.
- Save the nicest strawberry for the center! Rinse and dry it, then cut the leafy green part off.
- Make a ring of strawberries on top of the cake with the points facing out. Set the strawberries down side-by-side on top of the cake. You can place them so that the point touch the edges of the cake, or you can place them closer to the middle of the cake.[5]
- If you leave space between the strawberries and the edge of the cake, you'll be able to pipe buttercream scallops.
- Make another ring of strawberries inside the first one, overlapping it. How much you overlap the strawberries by depends what sort of design you want. The more you overlap the strawberries by, the more the ends will stick out. The less you overlap them by, the flatter the design will be.[6]
- If you overlap the strawberries by more than halfway, the points will stick up and create a rose-like design in the end.
- Make sure that the ends of the strawberries are pointing towards the edges of the cake too.
- Make more overlapping strawberry rings until you reach the center. Leave enough room for a whole strawberry in the middle. For a more unique design, overlap each ring of strawberries more and more the closer you get to the center. This will make it look more like a rose.[7]
- Place a final strawberry in the center of the cake. Insert the strawberry with the point sticking up for a rosebud design.[8] Alternatively, cut the strawberry into a rose first, then set it into the middle.
- Heat 1 cup (325 g) of preserves, then pour it over the strawberries. Measure 1 cup (325 g) of preserves into a small saucepan, then set it on the stove. Heat them over medium heat for a few minutes until they are smooth and liquidy, then pour them over the strawberries.[9]
- The heated preserves will make the strawberries look glossy and help them stay fresh longer.
- Raspberry, strawberry, or apricot preserves will all work great for this. If you have any heated preserves left, discard them or use them in another recipe.
- If you left space between the strawberries and the edges of the cake, pipe buttercream scallops around the cake. Do this after you pour the preserves.
EditCutting Strawberry Roses - Wash a large, cone-shaped strawberry, then cut the leaves off. Choose a large strawberry with straight sides that taper into a point; it should look like a cone when viewed from all sides. Rinse the strawberry, pat it dry, then slice the green leaves off.[10]
- Don't use warped, blob-shaped strawberries. They won't make very good roses.
- Don't hull the strawberry by driving a straw through it. You need the point intact.
- Make a cut into the side of strawberry, from the base. Set the strawberry on a flat surface with the cut side facing down. Use a sharp knife to slice straight down into the side of the strawberry, stopping from the base.[11]
- The width of the cut will vary from strawberry to strawberry. It will happen naturally based on the way it's curving.
- Start the cut about a third to half of the way up the side of the strawberry.
- Make the cut horizontal and parallel to the cutting board.
- Cut 3 to 4 more slices around the base to complete the first row. How many you end up fitting depends on the circumference of your strawberry, but you should be able to fit at least 3 or 4 more. Try to start and finish all of the cuts at the same level as the first one.[12]
- The cuts should be close enough so that they are almost touching. Don't leave large gaps between them.
- Because of the strawberry's curved shape, these horizontal cuts will look like semicircles. When you peel them away later, they'll look like petals.
- This completes your first row of petals.
- Make a second row of petals, staggering them between the first set. Start this row about 3/4 to 2/3 from the base of the strawberry. Position each petal between the 2 petals that are below it, sort of like bricks on a wall.[13]
- Do not cut into the petals from the first row or you'll ruin them.
- How many petals you fit will depend on the size of your strawberry. You should be able to fit 3 to 4 petals, however.
- If you have enough room above the second row, you could make a third row of petals. You'll probably only be able to fit 2 or 3 petals, however.
- Slice straight down into the top of the strawberry, stopping at the petals. This will create the center bud of your rose. The cut can go horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, but try to place it within 2 petals, rather than the spaces between the petals.[14]
- Just like the previous rows, don't cut into the petals below it.
- Pry the bud and petals apart. Set your knife between the 2 petals at the top of your strawberry and wiggle it to pry them apart. Repeat this motion for the other petals that you made. Start at the top of the strawberry and finish at the base.[15]
- This completes 1 strawberry rose. Use this process to make as many as you want.
- If you're making multiple strawberry roses, consider making them in different sizes. This will make the arrangement look more realistic.
- Use a dab of buttercream to stick the rose to your cake. If the cake will be sitting out for a few hours, heat up some jam in the microwave, then pour it over the rose first, before you place it on the cake. This melted-jam coating will help the strawberry stay fresh longer.
- Raspberry preserves will work great for this, but you can also use strawberry or apricot. Alternatively, use red or pink piping gel.
- For best flavor, match the buttercream to the one that you used on your cake. For example, if you used vanilla buttercream to frost the cake, use vanilla buttercream to adhere the strawberry.
EditCreating Other Designs - Pipe vines onto a frosted cake, then add sliced strawberries to them. Frost your cake first using white buttercream. Pipe curlicue vines with green frosting onto cake. Slice mini strawberries in half, and add them to the vines so that they look like they're growing.[16]
- Leave the greens on the mini strawberries. Alternatively, cut them off and pipe your own greens with green frosting.
- Slice more strawberries in half, then arrange them around the bottom edge of the cake.
- Alternatively pipe the vines onto parchment paper with melted chocolate first. Let the chocolate harden, then peel it off and set it on the cake.
- Fill the top of a cake with strawberries, then pipe scallops onto the edge. Cut the green parts off of the strawberries first, then arrange the strawberries on the cake with the points facing up. Use enough strawberries to cover the entire surface of the cake. Pipe buttercream scallops around the edge of the cake.[17]
- Heat 1 cup (325 g) of strawberry, raspberry, or apricot preserves, then pour it over the strawberries for a glossy look.
- This design works for cakes of any shape: square, rectangle, or round.
- For a nicer presentation, choose strawberries that are roughly the same shape and size.
- Cut a V-shaped notch into the top of a strawberry, then cut it into slices. Make 2 cuts to either side of the green stem. This will not only remove the stem, but also create a V-shaped notch. Next, set the strawberry pointy-side-up on a cutting board, then cut it into thin slices. When you peel them apart, you'll get hearts![18]
- Make the slices about wide.
- Arrange the hearts in whatever pattern you want on the cake. For example, you could scatter them randomly, or make a beautiful arc.
- Place 2 hearts together with the points touching to create a butterfly!
- Arrange whole strawberries around the top edge of the cake. Just be sure to rinse the strawberries well first, and to cut the green stems off. For something fancier, pipe large stars all around the top edge of the cake first, then set the strawberries on top.
- Place the strawberries as close together or as far apart as you'd like.
- If you're piping the stars, make them wider than the strawberries.
- Alternatively, slice the strawberries in half, then place them cut-side-down onto the frosting. Make the points face into the cake.
- Place sliced strawberries around the bottom side edges of the cake. Rinse the strawberries first, then cut the green parts off. Cut them into halves or into thick slices. Press the strawberries into the sides of a frosted cake, with the flat edges facing down and the pointy ends facing up.
- If you sliced the strawberries in half, press the cut side into the frosting so that the outside of the strawberry is visible.
- Use strawberries that are all the same shape and size for a more processional touch.
- The cake will be more colorful if you place the strawberries side-by-side, but you can leave up to gaps between each berry.
- Combine strawberries with other berries for a more colorful look. Arrange sliced strawberries in overlapping rings on top of the cake. Leave a cup-sized gap in the middle, then fill the gap with blueberries.[19]
- Blackberries or raspberries will also work for this.
- You can use other berries with other designs. For example, you could replace some of those strawberries with blackberries in the vined design!
- Create a scaled design by overlapping the strawberries sideways. Chop the green parts off of cone-shaped strawberries off, then cut them into thick slices. Arrange the strawberries in a ring on top of the cake, with the points overlapping the flat ends.
- Create a more colorful design by adding more rings of strawberries within the first ring.
- If you're adding more rings, consider alternating the directions the strawberries point in: clockwise and counterclockwise.
- Make a chocolate dipped strawberry cake for a decadent treat. Frost the cake with vanilla buttercream frosting. Dip strawberries into melted chocolate, then chill them in the freezer on a parchment-lined baking sheet for a few minutes. Pipe large buttercream rosettes around the top edge of the cake, then set the strawberries into them.[20]
- Alternatively, frost the cake with strawberry buttercream, then pour ganache over it. Pipe buttercream stars on top, then add the chocolate dipped strawberries.[21]
- For a richer treat, frost the entire cake with ganache. Place the dipped strawberries on top, then add some chocolate curls.[22]
- Milk, dark, and white chocolate are all great choices. You could even dip the strawberries in 2 colors of chocolate, or drizzle melted chocolate on top.
- Leave the green leaves on the strawberries; they will look nicer.
- For best results, use cone-shaped strawberries that are all the same size. Discard the sides, or place them on the cake with the cut side facing up.
- Instead of leaving the green parts on, chop them off, then pipe edible greens using green frosting.
- If you're slicing blob-shaped strawberries, slice across the thin side rather than the wide side. This will give you triangular slices.
- You can make the cake a few days ahead of time. Wrap each layer separately in plastic wrap then store it in the freezer until you're ready to decorate the cake.[23]
- Store the frosted cake in the fridge for up to 3 days. It will taste better the day you decorated it, however.[24]
- You can keep a frosted cake at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours, but after that, it should go into the fridge. If you leave it out on the counter for too long, the frosting may melt and spoil.[25]
EditThings You'll Need - Cake
- Buttercream frosting
- Cake decorating spatula
- Strawberries
- Parring knife or small, sharp knife
- Cutting board
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Create a Working Budget Posted: 06 Dec 2018 08:00 AM PST Budgeting is a great way to see where your money goes each month. Plus, it also lets you cut back on your spending if you're outspending your income. A good budget restricts your spending to an amount lower than your total income. So, whether you're trying to get out of debt, saving up for a big purchase, or just aiming to have a better understanding of your personal finances, creating a working budget is the way to go. Track your budget using a sheet of paper or spreadsheet or through a budgeting app. EditCreating Your Own Budgeting Spreadsheet - Use a pre-made budget worksheet for an easy option. If you'd rather not add functions to your own spreadsheets, try using one of the many pre-built budget worksheets online. Worksheets list types of fixed and variable monthly expenses, and many already contain addition and subtraction functions to calculate your budget for you.
- Watch your budget with a spreadsheet for a technological alternative. A spreadsheet has the additional benefit of being able to tally your monthly income and expenditures. Name rows for different types of fixed and variable expenditures. When setting up your budget spreadsheet, use the "sum" and "subtract" functions to add up your total expenditures and subtract these from your net income.
- If you like, break down sub-categories within expenditure areas like "food" or "entertainment." For example, you could have "restaurants," "bars," "take-out" or "movies," "concerts," and "theater."
- Or, you could use multiple spreadsheets each month. For example, 1 could be only for fixed expenses, another for variable expenses, and a third for your various sources of income.
- Track your budget on a sheet of paper for a simple option. Write "total net income" at the top, followed by the amount. Then, use a separate row to track your expenses. Write "fixed" and "variable" on the left side of the page, and fill in the various sub-categories: "rent," "food," "auto," "entertainment," "medical," etc. As the month goes by, record your expenses in each category.
- At the end of the month, add up the expenses and confirm that they're less than the total income.
EditUsing a Budget App - Monitor your budget through an app if you prefer working online. If you're on your computer or phone most of the day anyway, you may prefer to handle your budget online. Apps will allow you to input your monthly expenses and income and can calculate whether or not you're living within your means. Useful budgeting apps available for iPhone and Android include:[1]
- Mint and Acorn
- Pocketguard
- Prism
- You Need a Budget
- Make monthly adjustments to keep your budget on track. In order to maintain a balanced budget, your income must be greater than or equal to your expenses. However, these amounts may fluctuate: you may get a raise at work, your monthly rent payments may increase, or you may find yourself going to the movie theater more often. Take stock of your budget monthly by calculating total expenses and income through your budgeting app.[2]
- If you find that your monthly expenses have shifted and your expenses are now larger than your income, reduce your variable expenses to balance the budget.
- Once you start living within your means, it's time to plan for a financial goal, like saving up for a new car. Or, you could put your money to work by investing in stocks and bonds.
- Set aside an additional 20% of your monthly income for savings. If you don't set aside money, you'll always be living from paycheck to paycheck. If it helps, you can think of your savings as another type of fixed expenditure. An easy way to make sure that 20% of your income is set aside for savings is to automate the transfer. Use your app to set up an automated transfer each month to a separate savings account.[3]
- For example, if you have a total net income of $2,000 a month, earmark $400 for savings.
- Tackle any outstanding debts by making monthly payments. This is a necessary part of your budget if you have student loans, credit card debt, or loans from buying a house or a car. Use your app to set aside a percentage of your monthly net income—say, 10%—to go towards debt repayment. Make sure that this amount is enough to decrease the principal amount of your debt, so you're not just paying the interest.[4]
- While some types of debt repayment—e.g., car loans or a mortgage—will fall under your fixed expenses, other types may not. For example, many people defer their credit card payments for months on end and rack up financial penalties.
- If you're not able to set aside money for both savings and debt repayment, focus on paying off the debts. If necessary, you could use the entire monthly 20% that you would set aside for savings to pay off your debts.
EditModifying Your Budget as Needed - Calculate how much money you earn after taxes in a typical month. Look at your bank statements to figure out how much money you bring home each month. This amount is your net income after taxes and other deductions. The goal of your budget is to restrict your spending to less than this dollar amount.[5]
- Income can include more than just your salary. Also include income from sources like tips, scholarships, legal entitlements like child support, alimony, cash gifts, government subsidies, and any other money that comes into your wallet or bank account.
- If you're self-employed and file your own taxes quarterly, keep in mind that your take-home pay at the end of the month isn't your true net income. You'll need to calculate your average monthly income after your quarterly taxes have been subtracted.
- Calculate your fixed expenses to see what you have to pay each month. Fixed expenses are expenses that remain relatively stable from one month to the next. These will include items such as your rent, groceries, mortgage payment, car payment, loan payments, utilities, and insurance. To calculate expenses, save all of your receipts for a month. At the end of the month, add up all payments made on fixed, necessary items.[6]
- Fixed expenses, by definition, must be met each month. In other words, the payments and amounts are non-negotiable.
- Add up your variable expenses to find what expenses can be cut. Variable expenses are items that fluctuate from one month to the next such as the costs associated with dining out, entertainment, clothing, alcohol, personal care products, and vacations. Add up variable expenses by looking at your monthly itemized credit card bill. They'll be under categories like entertainment, clothes, or restaurants.[7]
- Unlike fixed expenses, variable expenses can fluctuate from month to month and are generally non-essential. This will be the first place to make cut-backs if you are spending beyond your means.
- Calculate your total monthly spending within each budget sub-category. Your budget should be arranged under "fixed" and "variable" expenses, and each of these 2 main categories should contain several sub-categories. Breaking up your budget into these categories can help you figure out what you might be spending too much on from month-to-month.
- For example, sub-categories include rent, utilities, food, entertainment, and clothes. To figure out your total monthly spending, go through monthly bank statements or itemized credit card bills and calculate the total within each of these categories.
- Let's take "auto" as an example, and say that each month you have a car payment of $300 and a $100 insurance bill. In addition, every month you spend an average of $250 on fuel, $50 on maintenance, and $10 on taxes and fees, such as registration. So, in the "auto" category, your total budget for the month would need to be at least $710 per month.
- Add up all your monthly spending across all categories. This should show your total monthly spending, which is the amount of money that comes out of your bank account each month. Compare this figure to your total net income. If the total expenditures exceed the total income, you'll need to start making cuts.[8]
- For example, say you make $2,000 monthly. Say that, when you add up your total expenses (fixed and variable), they come to $2,700. This tells you that you'll need to cut at least $700 from your monthly budget.
- Cut spending on your restaurant and entertainment purchases. Leisure-related expenses might help you have fun and socialize, but they can also be a big drain on your budget. Try cutting the amount you eat out in half or cutting the amount spent on alcohol in half. This way, you'll have money left over to spend on fixed expenses, like rent and utilities.[9]
- For example, say you realize that you're spending $200 a month on eating in restaurants, and calculate that you're $100 over budget each month. The most effective solution would be to spend $100 less on restaurants. So, you'd need to cap your total restaurant expenditures at $100 monthly.
- Spend less on travel and personal care if your budget is still strained. Cutting from these categories—which includes clothing—may be difficult, depending on your lifestyle. But, you can cut little by little if that's easier. Then, use the money you save to pay off some of your fixed expenses, like rent or a home mortgage.[10]
- For example, if you're used to taking 2 family vacations each year but can't currently pay your mortgage, cancel 1 vacation and pay your mortgage instead.
EditBudgeting Help - For the first few months and as time goes by, you will find that your original budget has some flaws. That's OK! Don't worry about it; just adapt to the situation and make revisions as you get a clearer picture of your spending. After all, practice makes perfect!
- If your income is the same as your expenses, or, better yet, greater than your expenses, you have devised a fully-functioning working budget. Though it may be tempting to spend whatever "extra" funds you have, your next step ought to be to make sure that you put your leftover funds to work for you. There is no such thing as "money to spare," especially if you have debt or unrealized savings goals. Instead of adding your surplus to the "Fun" budget, use it to add extra to savings or open a CD.
- If you're having trouble balancing your budget, try to cut habits like smoking, drinking, and frequent dining out, shopping, or entertainment. These are all very heavy weights on your budget, and you'll notice a huge difference in your balances by just letting them go!
- Don't try to begin a new budget for the first month after an event in your life where money was significantly spent or saved, such as a vacation, a wedding, a move, or an unexpected stay in the hospital. Wait until your finances have settled and been in order for at least 3–6 months before starting fresh.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations EditQuick Summary
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