But let's face it, if such a definition of a cash budget didn't allow for modifications, we'd all be in trouble. Most of us are in debt already, and that's why we search the Internet for articles such as this one. Plus, some debt is necessary, such as school loans, car loans, house loans, etc. This means that we have to ad a (d) that is, paying off your loans.
 Our modified definition of cash budget is: Paying through (a) through (d) without getting into more debt.
 So, now that we've quickly constructed an idea of what a cash budget is, we move on to the next step. We've got to know exactly what (a) through (d) entails. We've got to know what we're spending on essentials and non-essentials monthly. Remember, though, that essentials have expanded to include the payment of existing debt.
 Starting with essentials, then, we sit down and list approximately what we spend on each of the essentials throughout the period of one month. We want to stick to our cash budget, so we decide if we're overspending on any of these essentials. For example, groceries are essential, but it's no good to think of them as a lump some, as a thing. What do we mean by groceries? Milk's essential, but maybe Doritos aren't. We want to cut out anything that can be cut out during this first stage.
 Once we know, not only what we're paying for essentials each month, but what we could be paying with a little sacrifice, we move to essential non-essentials. There's a paradox there, but it's plain that we need to take a break once in a while, be entertained, take a break from cooking dinner, see friends, etc., in order to be happy and healthy and sane. Therefore, we treat the non-essential essentials almost precisely as we treated the essential ones.
 That is, we sit down and list approximately what we spend on each of the essential non-essentials throughout the period of one month. It's true that this one may be a little harder, as it's more of a moving target, that is, it may seem absolutely essentially non-essential one month, say, October, to buy an expensive gorilla costume, but once November arrived the craving mysteriously disappears.
 Still, though, we should be able to decide generally what we're pay for essential non-essentials each month. Upon which, as before, we start cutting. If we're movie buffs, going to a movie on weekends or renting a video is a necessary. But maybe eating out isn't as important as it would be to a great food lover. So, we change "dinner and a movie" to "a movie," and so on.
 The last and hardest part of the job is still ahead. We've got a budget, and the only remaining step is to stick to it. It might help to review it regularly, and when we slip up atone for it by sacrificing a non-essential essential elsewhere. Also, we'll have to include such things as Halloween (as already mentioned, unless you're not into Halloween for whatever reason), birthdays, and so on into our calculations. It's important that we not think of these things as exceptions to the rule, however, but rather as things that have to be done while still sticking to the budget. It'll take creativity and discipline, but it's possible.