Start by listing your regular income and essential expenses, including rent or mortgage, utilities, groceries, transport, insurance and debt repayments. Add less frequent costs, such as registration, school expenses and annual subscriptions, by estimating their yearly total and dividing it by 12. Track your actual spending for a month, then review the budget regularly and adjust categories when prices or circumstances change. If your income is tight, check whether you may be eligible for government support through servicesaustralia.gov.au and consider speaking with a free financial counsellor.