Budgeting isn’t deprivation or drudgery. It’s the key to security and freedom. By learning to budget, you can finally break the pay check-to-pay check cycle, become debt free and save more. As Jesse Mecham shows, a budget won’t make you feel more restricted. It will make you feel free. You Need A Budget outlines his four simple rules to completely revolutionize the way you think about managing your money:

1. Give every dollar a job. Take your cash, checking and saving accounts and assign jobs to that money. Begin now with what you have on hand. Pick your priorities and make sure your dollars are helping you move closer to the things you really care about.

2. Embrace your true expenses. Identify your larger, less frequent expenses—such as insurance premiums, birthdays, holidays, car repairs—and break them into manageable monthly amounts. This will help you even out your cash outflows, decrease your stress and make better decisions.

3. Roll with the punches. Life always changes and unexpected expenses happen. If you need to change your budget, just do it. The YNAB philosophy not only tolerates changing your budget, it encourages it.

4. Age your money. Increase the time between earning and spending and finally break the pay check-to-pay check cycle.

These four rules are the pillars of a tried-and-true system that requires you to engage with your money every day. Following the rules, you’ll learn to adjust your money habits, become proactive and ultimately control your finances. Say goodbye to stressing over last month’s statement and say hello to taking charge and finally building the life you want.