Forming a budget is one of the most important parts of financial success. As you first enter the workforce, or even if you switch jobs, knowing how much money you will have available to spend on different aspects of your life will help you avoid debt and possibly even save some money for a rainy day.

California CareerZone can help you start thinking about your financial choices by asking you a series of questions about the lifestyle you would like to lead. As you answer each question, the system will plug in the average costs for your choice based on your selected area. While your actual expenses may vary, you will start to get a sense of how much money you will need in the future. When you are finished answering all the question, you can find occupations which might pay enough to support your desired lifestyle.

If you already have an occupation, or know what you are going to be, you can choose to budget from that starting salary. Similar to what what was described previously, you will be asked a series of questions about your desired lifestyle, however this time those costs will be subtracted from your monthly take home pay. This will give you an idea of whether your desired lifestyle is sustainable with your chosen occupation.