Hi Gary,
I have a budgeting question. I am in search of some type of budgeting
tool that allows me to input my annual income, regular monthly bills
(utilities, mortgage, vehicle insurance, etc.), and other “self inflicted”
debt such as credit cards and loans (other than mortgage), then
calculates what I should budget for particular items based upon my income and
the monthly expenses mentioned above.  An example would be, how much
should I budget for clothing, groceries, personal expenses (haircuts),
things of that nature while trying to pay off my “self inflicted” debt.
Is there such a tool in existence? I have Microsoft Money on my
computer but it only generates charts which show me how much I am spending on
those items, not what I should be spending based on my income vs. debt.
Any suggestions? I’m even interested in a simple calculation I can do
if there is such a thing. I’m at a loss.
R H

The bottom hasn’t hit yet for one of the nation’s largest home builders, D.R. Horton, which said Tuesday that third-quarter sales orders fell 40 percent due to high inventory levels and weak market conditions weighing on new homes.

D.R. Horton reported 8,559 home sales orders for the quarter, which equates to about $2 billion, down from 14,316 homes, or $3.8 billion, in the same period a year ago.

Net sales orders for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 totaled 27,313 homes ($6.9 billion), compared with 41,550 homes ($11.4 billion) for the same period of fiscal 2006.