January seems to be a good month for digging
up wealth: Gold was discovered Jan. 24, 1848, in California and the
first great oil discovery was made Jan. 10, 1901, in Texas.
Draft a budget. Take a big-picture look at how much is
really coming in each month and where you want to steer it. Factor in your
retirement; necessities (such as food, clothing, transportation and shelter);
niceties (such as dining out and entertainment), and short- and long-term
savings. Try Bankrate's
home budgeting work sheet interactive.
