Getting your family’s finances to fit within a set monthly budget is no easy task, but using personal finance tools like Mint.com is one of the easiest ways to get started. Instead of writing down and accounting for each transaction manually, the software automatically categorizes your transactions, sends you alerts, makes suggestions based on your spending, and helps you stay on track.

Holly Perez of Mint.com shares 5 simple and stress-free tips for families to begin budgeting:

1. Start small. Managing your money is a marathon, not a sprint. For example, if your family is trying to pay off debt, start small. Commit to making the minimum payment each month. As you identify savings over time, look to pay more than the minimum which will help you reduce debt faster.

2. Create discretionary subcategories. Many families have no idea how much they spend on dining out, travel, entertainment or clothing. Create discretionary subcategories so you can track such expenses, and then establish realistic monthly allotments for each category.

3. Decide where to cut back. Budgeting is a matter of knowing what you earn, what you owe, and where money is spent. What makes it complex is deciding where to cut back and where to divert more money. Begin by thinking about creative ways to cut your spending. Simple techniques such as making coffee at home, carpooling, shopping at consignment stores and buying in bulk, can really help trim your monthly spending. I also like to keep these three “B’s” in mind when trying to save money on things like kids’ extra-curricular activities: borrow (equipment, instruments, uniforms), bargain shop (consignment stores, deals online, etc.), budget (factor it in to your annual budget so you don’t get surprised!).

4. Expect changes. There are always going to be unexpected expenses. You don’t know when you’ll get a traffic ticket, when your pipes might spring a leak, or when you’re kiddos come down with a cold and need to co-pay for some antibiotics. Setting aside money each month into an emergency fund will give you a comfortable cushion that you only dip into during an emergency, and will help you cope with the unexpected.

5. Budget in fun. A budget that leaves no money for an occasional family outing at an amusement park is designed to flop. Your budget should help you succeed, not put you in a bind. The point is to budget in these fun family splurges, rather than just push them out of sight and out of mind and then find yourself surprised at that charge your budget didn’t account for.

Starting a budget for your family doesn’t have to require drastic steps. Instead, small, simple methods can make a big difference for your bottom line. It might take some getting used to, but getting your family on board with your money-saving efforts makes it easier to gain a little wiggle room in your budget, and the reduced stress is worth the extra effort!

Written by Holly Perez

Holly loves helping people better manage their money with her work with Quicken and Mint. You can also find her chasing after good bargains and her two boys.

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