[tinapbeana]

Train (for work)- $100
Gas- $75
Eating out- $100
Entertainment- $100
Clothes- $200

= $675

What worked for me & my spouse was to take expenses like the ones above and give ourselves a weekly allowance in cash. Maybe try $150 per week ($600/mo is less than currently budgeted) and tell yourself you have to pay cash for any of the above every week. When you're out of cash, wait till next week.

I found it works well b/c a week isn't a horribly long time to wait for something like a movie or a dinner out, or even a birthday gift. It keeps us focused on what we spend without feeling we have to wait till next month for the budget to renew itself.

It's all in the strategery *grin*