I have come to respect budgets.

A budget is nothing more or less than a plan, normally a money plan. If you think you will have $1,000 coming in this month, and want your outgo to equal your income, then you can list the categories within which you plan to spend your $1,000. Say $200 for food, $200 for car payments, $100 for recreation, etc.

Many of us lack the time or talent to either create a money budget (plan), or to follow one if we have it.

I don’t have the time or talent to create or foll...