Keeping New Year's resolutions: Money

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - We've reached the final topic of our resolution rescue.
     
We're tackling something that everyone can connect with: money.
     
At some point, everybody has asked themselves the question "where have I spent all my money?"

The best way to find out is to budget.

Almost everyone has the monthly expenses of rent, mortgage, phone, gas, and food. However, until they write it down, most people don't know what they're spending their money on.
     
When you start paying attention, it can be surprising.

"When you start looking at your bills and you see where your money is being spent, it sends an alert to you and says 'Well I really didn't mean to spend that kind of money in this place. Maybe i shouldn't have done that,'" said Tracy Lindsay from First Financial Bank, "so it keeps you from spending that money maybe the next month where it shouldn't be spent."
     
If you need help, you're in luck.
     
There is a weekly class currently taking place at The Bridge Church in Terre Haute. The class features financial author Dave Ramsey. It takes place every Thursday from 6:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. It goes on for nine week.
     
Bill Henry is the pastor at The Bridge Church and one of the members of the class.

He says it's not just for people who are living paycheck to paycheck; it's for everyone.

"I don't care how much money you've got in your pocket, if you still owe that money that you have in your pocket to somebody, you don't have any money, that's just money that you owe debt," said Henry. "Realistically, if you can get yourself out of debt from that point on, that money that you have in your pocket is actually yours."

While you might not notice it now, having good finances is crucial when making big payments like buying a car or house.

Surprisingly, Lindsay says it's important to account for "fun money." Without the ability to have finances to go out to eat or go to a movie, it can be very stressful to keep a budget.

To quote Dave Ramsey, "Live like no one else (today) so you can live like no one else (tomorrow)."