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If your paycheck seems to be disappearing into thin air, you may be stuck in money traps.
如果你的工資好像消失了一樣，那你可能是陷入了經濟困境。
But don't despair.
但是不要絕望。
Most people can get unstuck without going bankrupt.
大多數人能擺脫困境而不會破產。
The biggest budget mistake is no budget at all.
最大的預算錯誤是根本沒有預算。
As one reader put it, "we just put all the bills in a pile, and try to decide which to pay."
正如一位讀者所說，“我們把所有賬單堆成一堆，試圖決定支付哪個。”
As she and others have learned, however, the money usually runs out before the bills do.
但是，她和其他人已認識到，在賬單付完之前通常錢已花完。
The same problem plagues many who do have a budget.
同樣的問題困擾著許多做了預算的人。
In letter after letter we read, "It looks good on paper, but it never seems to work." Why not?
在我們讀的一封封信中寫道：“紙上寫的看起來不錯，但從來不起作用。”為什么不行呢？
Often because the budgets are unrealistic.
通常是因為預算不實際。
The solution: make a detailed record of where all your money goes now; then study it carefully.
解決辦法：詳細記錄你的錢現在花在哪方面；然后仔細研究。
Look for expenses that can be cut back.
找找可以削減的開支。
And don't give up in the face of high fixed expenses.
在高昂的固定花銷方面不要放棄。
Many of these can be reduced too.
這些開支有很多也可以削減。
In fact, it's often easier to save on essentials than on enjoyable extras.
實際上，節省必需品通常比節省令人愉快的額外花銷更容易。
If housing takes more than 25 percent of your income,
例如，如果住房花了你收入的25%以上，
for example, consider moving to a cheaper place, or renting out an extra room.
那就考慮搬到較便宜的地方或將多余的房間出租。
If utility bills are high, get the whole family involved in a conservation plan.
如果水電費高了，那就召集全家制定一個資源節約計劃。
Some bills can be eliminated altogether.
有些賬單可以完全取消掉。
When one mother realized that cable TV was costing her $500 a year,
當一位母親意識到有線電視每年花她500美元時，
she decided that network TV wasn't so bad.
她決定看網絡電視也不錯。
If you question every expense, you can find a few that can be reduced.
如果你質疑每筆花銷，那你就能找出幾項可縮減的開支。
