Which skill is essential for effective money management?

Creating a personal budget is an essential skill for effective money management because it allows individuals to track their income and expenses, set financial goals, and make informed decisions about their spending habits. A budget serves as a financial roadmap, helping individuals allocate their resources wisely, avoid overspending, and save for future needs or emergencies. By regularly updating and reviewing a budget, one can adjust to changes in income or expenses, ultimately leading to better financial health and stability.

In contrast, while reading financial news and understanding economic theories can contribute to one's financial literacy, they do not directly translate to personal finance management on a day-to-day basis. Calculating interest rates is useful in specific contexts, such as understanding loans or investments, but it is not as fundamental to overall effective money management as creating and maintaining a personal budget.