I started off with checkbook registers as a child. I had microsoft money when I went to "grow up" with my first computer in the past before they discontinued it. It makes me sad as I did like that despite never using it for any budgeting purposes persay but having all my bills in it for a 12 month view made it pretty easy to "visually budget". I've tried quicken for pc and for mac and it's okay until they force me to upgrade to the next year version. I've tried simple excel worksheets and complex ones. NOTHING seems to keep me motivated now that I'm getting serious about getting out of debt. I started this at the beginning of 2021. I downloaded several of Ms. Nash's bundles and separate sheets and what I've found that works for me is a mixture of them all (despite some being pretty much the same thing but slightly different). Going back to what first worked... I incorporated all her forms with a simple checkbook register (but printed on computer paper instead of the tiny book) and it's all in a binder. I went fancy with the heavy duty "better" binder from staples and pre-printed monthly dividers. I've colored in nearly all the monthly quotes which definitely make me think and make things more fun. I bought colorful erasable pens and what I've found by pulling out this book which is mostly Ms. Nash's charts, I'm actually looking forward to having some "color time" while updating bills/income/etc and I spend more time paying attention to the numbers than I ever had before. I second guess purchases to make myself not have to "write" as much down AND.... I'VE GOT MY HUSBAND ON BOARD!!! By putting it on paper with all my "silly colorful charts", my husband is looking at them and pulling the book out on his own to look at how things are going. In our 8 years of marriage and 10 years of being together, honestly, I've always handled the money stuff and he just expected things to work out. When stress of "how is this going to end up" when I started my Dave Ramsey journey a few years ago, it definitely doesn't work well when only one is on board. Finally, this method has brought us together. Granted, he DOESNT write anything at all down, but he's very interested in seeing how we made the goals and what we're looking like through the month. We are dreaming of the future for the first time! SO EXCITED!
