Budgets are useful in protecting your financial well-being and in helping you to achieve your life goals, but they cannot work if they are not created, maintained and revised in writing.

Do I have an emergency fund that contains $1,000?

If not, create or revise your budget so that you can build one as quickly as possible.

Do I have a savings account?

If not and you already have an emergency fund with $1,000 in it, open one and contribute to it regularly.

Do I have a current budget?

If not, choose a budget type and begin to create or revise yours.

Do I have all of the financial documents I need and are they based on my budget?

If you don’t, set goals and make financial plans to achieve them by tying them to your current budget.