To achieve the goals you established may be simple if you follow basic steps to better control the money you receive and spend monthly; the most important thing is to plan a budget.
A budget is an x-ray of your financial condition, it helps you control your finances and identify exactly where you are spending your money, so that you can define your priorities and make changes to adjust it.

With the help of a budget you will make smatter purchases, since you will be able to plan in order to get what you desire. A budget is necessary to keep you grounded, if your expenses are bigger than your income, you have to reduce them; besides, remember that they should be paid with your income, not with credit. 

Understanding your home and personal finances will help you create a satisfying life style for you and your family, and might drive you to a more stable future. 

Making a plan 
Planning itself will not change your spending habits, but it will allow you to acknowledge the ones you need to change.

• Calculate what you can spend
• Establish saving goals
• Decide which expenses are necessary and which can be reduced

The most difficult thing about budgeting is getting organized and writing down everything you spend on, especially when it is the first time you do it. But with time, it will become natural, and you will be able to control your expenses more precisely. 

How to begin?
To start, gather your information, all records of earnings and expenses, like: 

• Any bills and receipts of purchases made with cash
• Any credit card receipts
• Any account statements

Once you have calculated the amount you make, you will have a better idea of your situation. If your expenses are greater than your income, you need to reduce them. Make sure you pay your monthly expenses with your income, not with credit.
Don’t depend on a credit card to cover cash shortages, or your balance will increase until it becomes debt.  

Fixed and Variable Expenses   
There are two types of expenses: fixed or variable. When you are creating your budget you have to identify and classify them between these two categories, so that you are able to change what’s necessary.

• Fixed Expenses: are those we have to pay periodically, and cannot be eliminated; like rent, water, power, food, and other utilities.
• Variable Expenses: are the expenses that may change from month to month or that can be eliminated; like eating out, clothing, entertainment, gifts, etc.