Based on your financial expertise, provide your response or viewpoint on the given financial question or topic. The response format is open.

Is keeping track of your money and having a budget the same thing?
A budget is a predetermined plan for spending allocated funds to a fixed set of categories according to a schedule. If by,  "Keeping track of your money" you mean you are only recording your spending to see on what it is being spent and when, then the answer is no.  A budget has constraints on three things: Schedule:  The mortgage has to be paid at the 1st of the month with a 2 day grace period. Amount: The mortgage payment is 1500.00 Category: The mortgage. Tracking your money would be as follows: 10/5/2016: $25 for a video game. 10/5/2016: $129.99 for two automobile tires. 10/6/2016: $35.25 for luncheon. I didn't like him! Why did I blow this money? 10/7/2016: nothing spent...yoohoo! 10/8/2016: Payday, heck yeah! I'm financially solvent YET AGAIN! How do I do it?! See the difference?