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You’ve landed yourself the right job, the right car and the right pad (that one in the postal code where you’re not afraid to walk around at night). Now comes the hard part: How do you both maintain what you’ve worked for, and ensure that it grows? Many early-to-mid-career types cavalierly affect a lack of urgency about budgeting — partially due to a sense of vagueness about where the money actually goes, partially due to assuming their career paths will always improve — and use it as an excuse for procrastination in terms of studying and controlling their finances. The truth is, if you don’t know your financial life intimately, regardless of your ;position on the career ladder, you’re very likely throwing money down the drain.

Approach budgeting as a regimented activity, like any exercise or personal hygiene routine. Right away, the mystery will dispel, and there’s every likelihood that you’ll find you have more money than you realize. (Even if the latter doesn’t bear out immediately, by simply following a regimen you’ll obtain a complete sense of your spending habits and budgetary needs — the essential starting point for improvement). Here are a few key steps to get your spending in shape and improve your financial life.

Know yourself
Some of us are detailed-oriented, some are not. Knowing your budget in a broad way is fairly easy for most people, but getting the finer points takes discipline and commitment. Track your expenses on a notepad, or on your mobile device. Put aside one hour a week to spreadsheet all your income and spending . Another option is to can set-up a (usually free) account with a budget tracking service, which will draw information directly from all your online accounts, including credit cards, most types of loan and investing accounts. You can then track your budget in real-time from your computer or your smartphone, and set up alerts to warn you when you’re exceeding your self-imposed target limit.

Mind your spending
Your primary foe in personal finance is the part of you that wants to always have the best of everything. Hey, who can blame you? You work hard, so you want the freedom to splurge on yourself. That’s short-term thinking: The big picture, always, is your financial future. Are you investing in that? Do you have savings to act as a financial cushion in case something unexpected happens (shocker: not just non-advancement in your career, but unexpected layoffs)? Find places where you can trim excessive discretionary spending. Say, that 52″ TV you’ve been eyeballing, despite having bought a 42″ only three years ago — so what if the prices have really come down? Do you really need to re-spend?

Consider the future
Ask yourself honestly what you imagine for your future. Two key questions, always, are, Do you want to own property, and, Do you want to have a family? From the big to the small, the long-term to the short-term, put your goals on paper. This will help sort out your true priorities, and give them a sense of approachability. A comfortable future does not come cheap these days (well, did it ever?); no matter your age, you need to deploy plans in order to achieve the serious vision you have for your life. Make sure you’re sweeping money periodically to retirement savings accounts and investment accounts, using direct deposit if possible. Try to max out any contributions to retirement savings plans and any other benefits available through your employer or the government. Early investment in retirement is a proven and potent way to get ahead of the game.

While many people are focused on a quick fix when it comes to personal finance, the truth is that most financial success is won by being vigilant and dedicated to the cause of financial security. It’s a lifetime commitment. If you haven’t already started, then get started now: Make a schedule, educate yourself as to what your budgetary picture looks like, and keep a close watch on how and why you spend. Over time, you’ll see clearly how the little drops add up, and where you’re losing water.

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Image courtesy of dooq.