Nobody likes to have to make a budget, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy making a spending plan. List everything you spend you money on each month. Have your family members do the same. It can be a family game. What are the things they want to keep? What can they do without? Erica Sandberg explains how to set up a spending plan by focusing on key areas.

1. Groceries:

August was definitely an eventful month, so we’ve compiled the most interesting stories from Go Banking Rates and around the web, just in case you missed them:

The good news is that the U.S. economy is still tops around the world. The bad news is China is gaining fast. Can the U.S. fend off the growing power from the east? Perhaps Wall Street reform will allow consumers to feel safe to spend again.

One industry seeing a resurgence is the auto industry. If you’re one of the many shoppers looking for a new car, do your homework and determine if you’re better off leasing or buying. If you’re buying, make sure your credit score is in tip-top shape.

However, everyone knows too many inquiries can hurt your overall number, so what if it were possible to shop around for the best auto loan rates and other types of credit without harming your credit score? It is actually possible if you know how to do it.

Thinking about opening a savings account? STOP! Be sure you ask a banker these 5 questions before you make your next move. For those of you who have savings accounts already, hopefully you’ve built up a nice reserve.

Lastly, be sure to check out our Personal Finance Group Writing Project. If you want to submit an article, do so before the September 7th deadline. You’re also encouraged to come by regularly and vote for your favorite writer. New entrants are updated on a daily basis so check back often.

Summer’s almost over, so be sure to grab that last glass of lemonade…and the lessons that come with it.

Around the Web:

Why isn’t your money earning more? Blame the economy. [Get Rich Slowly]

Transferring your credit card balance into accounts with lower APR used to be a great way to buy time while paying off debt. That may not be the case anymore with some cards. [Bargaineering]

Was it ever? Just kidding, folks.

Arguably, no industry’s reputation took a harder hit during this recession than banks. By now, you probably have the idea in your head of some miserly Mr. Potter from It’s a Wonderful Life trying to overdraft you into poverty, all the while some Gordon Gekko from Wall Street is responsible for foreclosing on your grandmother’s house.

It’s not your fault. The bad banks have no one to blame but themselves for the image mess they’re in. They padded their profits at the cost of their trusting customers through secret fees and even more secret financial products.

A new study released on Monday by the National Association of Business Economists revealed most U.S. economists are in favor of extending the Bush-era tax cuts to avoid further weakening the already fragile economy. However, economists were not in agreement on which route the Federal Reserve should take, if not going back to Clinton tax rates that were adjusted for inflation.

Bush Tax Cuts as of Today

It’s already been shown that men and women view money differently, which may explain why they also have such different qualities when it comes to their debt. Contrary to what many assume, though many more women are in debt counseling, men actually suffer from the most debt. Here’s a look at how the debt issues of men and women differ and why that might be the case:

Women Are More Optimistic

Disputing a bad item on your credit report can be very gratifying since you know it will eventually be removed. However, the question is: how long will it take? You probably have already been briefed that if you want a legitimate debt to be removed, it can take 7-10 years depending on what that debt is. Removing a bad debt is a little bit different.

What is Considered a Bad Debt On a Credit Report?

Identity theft. You’re hearing the words more and more, on TV and especially online. And there’s good reason. Identity theft is among the largest growing crimes in the world, and it costs consumers millions per year. Here are some facts about identity theft and how you can prevent it from happening to you.

Don’t miss out on all the info. Check out the fullsize graphic.

We’re entering the second week of the Personal Finance Writing Project: Education and Wealth. There have been some really interesting and thoughtful articles submitted so far and they need your votes! If you haven’t put your two cents in yet, vote for your favorites here.

Remember: The project ends September 7th, so be sure to participate or promote it and get all your friends to vote, too! The winner will receive a custom Readers’ Choice badge and bragging rights! Here’s a rundown of the submissions thus far (in alphabetical order):

This guest post is from Ron Haynes, the owner and editor of The Wisdom Journal where he writes about making wise choices, improving your finances and living a better life. You can follow him on Twitter at wisdomjournal.

You DO know what a W-4 is, don’t you? Most people know about their W-2 since that’s what they see each year in January or when they file their tax return, but you may only see a W-4 when you start a new job. Your W-4 is the form you fill out to declare how much tax should be withheld from your paycheck.