Need help getting on the right track

[disneysteve]

Between My Wife and I we bring home about $3,924.00 an month after taxes.

Monthly Bills
$ 3,170.96

This was the budget from google docs.

First thing you need to do is answer the question of where that other $754 is going. You mentioned that your wife smokes. That expenses isn't in your budget. What other expenses have you left out? The numbers you've posted look not that bad if you truly had a spare $750 every month but it sounds like you don't. Figure out where that money is going.

[bjl584]

I agree with the others. It looks like there is a lot of money that isn't being accounted for. The first step is to figure out where it's going.

[tripods68]

If you following Dave Ramsey, I recommend for you and your wife attend FPU class. We attended last year and helped us a great deal.

Also part of doing zero based budget is to knock off all entertainments, cable and eating out budget. Cut your budget slim enough. Your priority should be food, housing + utilities, clothing. Start to knock out other things that are not important to get out of debt sooner than later.

Dave Ramsey baby steps 1-6

Step 1: Set aside 1000 for EF
Step 2: Pay debt (snow ball)
Step 3: Build EF 3-6 months of expenses
Step 4: Invest 15% towards retirement
Step 5: College
Step 6: Pay Off Home

[Nutria]

Yet another vote for finding where that extra $750 goes every month. You can't plan if you lack knowledge.

Yet another vote for spreadsheets.

Dave Ramsey didn't save us. (I hadn't heard of him yet.) Brutal honesty and web bill pay saved us. For a couple of months, you and the wife need to hide the credit cards and use the debit card and web bill pay for everything. Cigarettes included. No ATM withdrawals at all.

At the end of that time, download your checking account transactions to a spreadsheet and categorize.

Then start cutting and looking for cheaper deals.

Of course, if the wife isn't on board, you're screwed. Thank the $DEITY that mine was!