Well it is one month into the new year. My goals for paying down my debt and losing weight are still in tact. I'm not sure which is harder though, losing weight or saving money. It seems like my grocery bill has exploded into the atmosphere with milk costing almost $5 a gallon etc etc.

I keep a monthly budget in excel. My budget is forecast for about 6 months out and I try to keep track of the $ I spend and the expenses I incur. I think I need to build in a fudge factor of about $50 for odds and ends that I end up buying like cold medicine for the kids and other unexpected costs.

I managed to tow the line on the credit card charges with the exception of a few bucks. I think the key to financial success is planning, planning, revising and measurement progress.

In addition to my financial goal and weight loss goal in 2008, I decided to automatically tithe to my church. Since I love technology, my church tithing is automatically deducted from my bank account once a month. I think I am more likely to consistenly tithe if it is automatic rather than the seemingly more optional approach of using the church issued budget envelopes.