Lots of people want to know the secret to being good with money. And there's really just a couple of good tips or financial habits that can make all the difference. Learning how to 'Understand Money' can really pay off for you.

One of the main things to harness - is where your money goes! Everyone hates the word 'budget' and decides that their pay is all over the place, so it probably won't help - but just understanding where each dollar goes can really help. A penny saved is a penny earned as the old saying goes!

Your income may vary fairly radically, or be the same week in week out; but chances are your expenses will be fairly static. Knowing what you're spending on is the first step to being in control. Understanding whether you have enough to blow on a big weekend out or if you need a quiet one in to afford some coming expenses can lower stress levels!

You really need to know if you spend more than you earn or if there's money left over each pay period. Again, there's plenty of websites that can help with getting a handle on your spendings. Type the word BUDGET into Google and you'll get over 365 million responses!

If you want something for the local Australian market then - try www.simplesavings.com.au - not only do they offer a budget planner, downloads and a calendar, but also tips and encouragement on getting things under control.

Alternately, The Australian Government is on the case and has established the Financial Literacy Foundation in association with Paul Clitheroe. Visit www.australia.gov.au/understandingmoney for more.

Whilst there - order your free copy of the Understanding Money handbook - they'll post it out to you!

Having a good day to day bank account can also help in getting started. Interview a few banks for your business - you can even do this online. Find out how much interest they offer on daily balances - or if they offer split accounts to save for larger expenses such as registration, rates and water bills at no extra cost. Play off the big boys against the Credit Unions to see who comes up trumps.

These days, a website like www.ratecity.com.au can take some of the hard work out for you. It compares car insurance prices, credit card deals, savings accounts, transaction accounts, term deposits and loans to help you find the best deals for your situation.

Take back control - after all - The Buck Stops with You!