Start by listing your regular income and outgoings, including bills, food, travel, subscriptions and less frequent costs such as insurance or birthdays. Compare the totals, separate essential spending from wants, and set realistic limits for flexible spending rather than relying on estimates. If possible, plan to build an emergency fund and review your budget each month, especially after changes to your income or bills. MoneyHelper’s budget planner can help you organise the figures and identify areas where you might cut back.