I used to think a budget was just about cutting back on coffee.

For years, I tracked my spending but never really planned ahead. Then I tried the 'zero based' method where you give every dollar a job before the month starts. I put $75 into a 'car repair' fund in January, and when my tire blew in March, I didn't touch my main account. It wasn't about having less, it was about telling my money where to go. What's a simple budgeting trick that actually worked for you?