Ok, that's a bit of an over dramatic way to tell you to not give up on your budget. But seriously, that is one of the hardest things about budgeting: keeping up with it.
What do I do? I try to spend about 10-15 minutes everyday on my budget--I know, I know, that probably sounds about as exciting as having a tooth pulled everyday for the rest of your life--however this keeps me from feeling overwhelmed by having to spend hours on it once a month or even once a week.
Also, taking a few minutes every day to input your expenses/income/etc will also give you an excuse to check your budget everyday. (Which is truly the only way to make sure you do not overspend.)
Don't get discouraged either if it takes a while to get your spending in check--which means you blow up your budget two-three months in a row; it's ok, as long as you are making an effort.
However, do not let that excuse roll on into month 4, 5, 10, 11.... Get the picture? It's like quitting a bad habit; you should not expect to be able to change tomorrow, but you should be able to change after a month or two honest effort.
For those of you who are married/share a budget with someone, I'm going to give you some suggestions for getting them involved with the process (without killing each or, or one of you turning into what one friend of mine calls a Budget NAZI!)
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