If you’re like most people, you work hard for your money. While much of that income goes toward meeting your obligations—housing, food, cars, insurance—it’s nice to have a little extra for the finer things in life.

The key to having enough for both your wants and needs is to spend your money wisely, which means creating a budget. A household budget is like a written blueprint for spending that helps document how much you take in, how much you pay out, and how you might stretch your dollars a little further.

Buying your first home can be overwhelming. But if you break it down into simple steps, you can feel much more confident and focus on the excitement of the process rather than the stress of it. Here’s what you can expect when buying a home in North Carolina.