Automate, automate, automate!

Get as much of your finances as you possibly can automated.   Set up a savings account and a direct debit from your everyday account into it each payday (just because you're a parent doesn't mean you shouldn't pay yourself first).  Then set up direct debits or Bpay for the phone, gas, electricity, water, council rates, insurances, kinder fees, gym fees - as many of your bills as you possibly can - from your bill account.  Having your bill paying on the "set and forget" system takes away the worry when they come in - you can check, smile and file instead of cringe, whinge and worry.