There’s no step like the first step and setting a household budget is no exception. While everyone agrees the benefits of daily exercise and walking—how many of us manage to follow it regularly? A personal budget is perhaps the most important first step and one of the most crucial aspects of financial planning, but it is a lot like regular exercise. Everyone knows it is important, but very few people do it properly. Or do it at all. Check for yourself, where you stand by taking the self evaluation test (See: Mind your Money on page 36) and come back to reading further.