How can i manage my money?

every week i put my check into my bank and the money dissapears, it goes to returned item fees, insufficient funds fee, i dont know how to manage my money, or even save money. Help!

Make paying your bills your #1 priority...groceries and saving #2...and then if there is any left...pleasure.

Pay attention. Your avoiding it. It has to become a priority for you. Stop being immature and realize you need to balance your checkbook.

Balancing is easy: Put the banks number on speed dial. Use their computer system to call and check your balance.

Realize the balance is not reflect checks and purchases not cleared yet. Check off the ones that have cleared.

Once you get a handle on this, then you can have control over your life.

Start making a list of the things you need and stick by that list. A lot of people will go to a place and not realize how much their spending until they are at a cash register. Also, stop and think about the things your buying...are they you need...or things you could really do without. Also, look at ways to have fun that are inexspensive.

Well only use money for important thing like food, house paments, car payment, and so on.

What my parents do is they have two account one is for the bills and food, then the other one has the money for vacations, clothes, and extra stuff
If you do that then put about $50 in the vacation account and the rest of your check in the bills account

and if the bank doesn't do the 2 account thing then have a jar in you room and put vacation money in that and have an account for bills

good luck

Generally when you get a new checkbook it comes with a check register. Use this to copy down the amounts of all of your checks. Before you ever write a check or withdraw money, go through your check register to figure out what checks have been cashed and what your balance will be once all of the outstanding checks are cashed.

Another option is to stop writing checks. Pay everything with either cash or debit. That way your balance will always be totally up to date.

A third option is to have a second account that is used only for writing checks. When you write a check on that account, immediately transfer the amount of that check from your main account into the checking account. That way there will always be just enough to cover the checks, and you're free to spend whatever is left in your main account.

Grow up. All the other people in the world handle their money...why are you an exception?

read this book it is great

The Total Money Makeover Workbook by Dave Ramsey

The problem is that you don't have any kind of a plan for your money. You need to create a plan on how you are going to spend your money, and then you need to stick to it. It doesn't have to be complicated, and it doesn't have to take a lot of time. I'd guess I spend about 30 minutes a week on managing my budget.

A budget will help you understand how you are spending your money, help you save money for the future, and help you ensure that you spend your money on what you really want to. But you have to make a plan up front. Having a plan for how you will spend your money is absolutely critical.

The site below will give you a very simple overview, and has lots more free information on how to use a budget.