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Money is a strange thing. I never actually see our money. We have this account we log into on our computer, our paychecks are deposited automatically, the numbers go up, the numbers go down, but I never see any actual money. It's so easy to go into debt for that very reason, you never see it. *Zip Zip* goes the credit card, and it's all yours. Anything you want! If there is anything I try to avoid like the plague, it's credit card debt. The thought of it makes me want to barf. And while I'm on my soapbox, remember how I feel about married people having their own bank accounts? It's weird.

I've read a little Dave Ramsey and I love his envelope system. Make an envelope for each budget with cash in it: eating out, gas, food, clothes, utilities etc... Then you can only spend the amount of cash in the envelope each month. Great! But come on Dave, envelopes? Cash? It's 2011 and I have online banking. But even with a budget and online banking it's hard to know exactly how much I'm spending in each category.... unless you keep a check register. But like I said, it's 2011.

My Mom just introduced us to Mint.com and guys, it's going to change my life. And yours if you want to. I may be weird because I think budgeting is fun, but even if you don't think it's fun this website is super helpful. You can enter all of your financial information into one place, even if you have several accounts from different banks. You can set budgets for different items and it will show you how much you've spent in that budget for the month, and send alerts if you go over. You can also set goals, put in your car and student loans, and a ton of other things. I love that site! We will never go over our budget again! Except the clothing budget, I may be getting gypped on that one.

Now go children. Get rid of your money envelopes, throw out your credit cards, and start budgeting!