Folks this is not brain surgery.  And it is only as hard as you make it.  The most important step is developing a growth mindset that enables you to progress toward your goal in small ways on a daily basis and develop a willingness to persevere.    

I am not a proponent of spending a lot of money on budgeting programs.  You can do this on your own without exposing your financial information online through apps or alleged gurus.  Most gurus have stolen their “strategies” from previously free sources and repackaged them to sell to you.

Other than Investopedia, the balance does a really nice job of providing sound guidance in the area of budgeting. I’m not a proponent of their bent toward credit cards – but the site has to pay the bills and I understand their motive for the business relationship.  You just need to be disciplined and wise enough not to go down that path.   Credit has its place, but only as a tool to allow you to leverage your own money without risk.  The improper use of credit is how you can end up being controlled by your creditors – much like an addict is by their dealer.  Hint:  If you are using credit to cashflow your lifestyle – you have a habit that needs to be addressed immediately.