Buying a house can be expensive. You'll need to start saving your money for things like a down payment, which means deciding which things you can live without and which you can't. The cost of a house will eat up money you would have spent on other things. With a budget, you'll know what to do if you have to choose between a house payment and a new pair of shoes.

To learn how to budget your money so you can afford a home of your own, click here

Even when you save your money, you'll still need a loan to buy a house, and to get a loan you have to prove you can support yourself and your family.

For information on getting a loan, click here

When you buy a house, you also have to prove you pay your bills on time and handle your money well. If you owe a lot of people or businesses money, your chances of getting a loan and buying a house are not as good. Whether you make good or bad choices with your money, it will all show up on a credit report, which the banks see when they decide whether to give you a loan.

To learn how to get a good credit rating, click here