<human>:  How do I make an effective budget for the month?
<bot>: The key to creating an effective budget for the month is determining your financial goals, tracking your expenses, and setting a realistic budget. First, decide on the financial goals that are most important to you and determine how much you need to spend to achieve them. Then, calculate your fixed and variable expenses to establish a baseline for your monthly budget. After that, create a list of expected expenses for the month and compare that with your income. Finally, adjust your budget as needed, so that you are able to prioritize the expenses that you have determined are integral to achieving your financial goals.