I am sure you have heard the advice about making a budget to help control your finances.  It is one of the first principles taught in any financial management course or on a banking website.  Budgets can make a big difference in knowing where your money goes and how to make it stretch farther.

The problem most people have with creating and sticking to a budget is not really being aware of their money situation.  Before you can dictate where your money should go, you need to have a realistic idea of where it is already going.  It can be so frustrating to spend the time making a budget, only to find that you spend more on groceries than you thought and cannot really make it on the budget amount you have set.Track First, Budget Later
Before you can begin a budget, then, you need to religiously track your expenses.  Keep a journal, an Excel spreadsheet, or buy accounting software such as Quicken.  Whatever method you choose, stick to it.  Do not exclude an expense because you think it is a one-time occurrence – life is made up of such occurrences.

As you get through the first month, start a tentative budget, but be willing to adapt it as you continue to track expenses.  Make sure you include allowances for car insurance that is paid annually, or that new set of snow tires you will need to buy.  The only way you can make a budget that works is to be realistic when you create it.