For most, budgeting sounds too drab as they would rather spend for today. But know that to become self-sufficient, it comes down to how you deal with your money, how you manage it. So it’s a lesson which needs to be learned, this to gain financial independence.
What the vast majority will do is spend paycheck to paycheck, or fall into the trap of spending more money than they earn, and then get swallowed by evil debt. It’s the easiest most luring thing to do. The bait that is credit seduces you to spend money you don’t have.
What this lack of budgeting in today’s economy is reaching, are cataclysmic levels with individuals and especially families, where they’re slipping into more severe debt issues. Then they have little knowledge on how they can turn their bleak situation around.
Effective Ways To Budget
The basics of budgeting begins with listing all incoming money on a monthly basis, and then listing all outgoing money, such as car payments, mortgage payments, credit cards, utilities, entertainment, etc.
For budgeting to work, what’s required is crunching the exact numbers while managing it, by not overspending on impulse.
Keep track all of your receipts, accounting for what’s been spent. Use this to make calculations on where your money is going as well as for what.
Expense Categories
• Housing – Mortgage or rent, all utilities, property taxes, insurance, etc.
• Work – Gas, parking, work clothes, lunches, day care, etc.
• Living – Food, personal clothing, medication, health insurance, etc.
• Personal – Entertainment, Internet, education, gifts, etc.
Once you’re bills are categorized, calculate what’s been spent for that week and then month, and then place the amounts in their categories.
Analyze on a monthly basis which expenses can be cut out or allocated, or go towards saving or improving your financial situation.
What the majority will do is spend their excess money on luxuries, turning these new fixtures into their monthly spending habits. What weeding these expenses out, allows you to save substantial amounts of money.
Once you take inventory of your spending habits, you’ll then be able to calculate exactly how much that you’re actually spending on these items.
Track Your Spending
Keep in mind that a contingency fund should also be factored into your budget, which should be around 10% percent of your net income.
This contingency fund will benefit you in times of emergencies, such as job loss or having unexpected expenses such as car repairs or medical issues.
This contingency fund should always be kept in a separate savings account, and discipline is needed is use the money just for emergencies.
Motivation Becomes Key
Motivation becomes an extremely important factor when it comes to budgeting. Create incentives to stick with your budget. Keep in mind that wealth accumulation is spending less than you’re bringing in.
The only way to ensure that you spend less and then do more with your money, is by learning how to effectively budget, and then diligently sticking to the plan.
Eventually, you’ll begin to see the benefits of your efforts, as you’ll be rewarded with more money in your bank account, this after you’ve finished paying off all your expenses. This will give you further motivation to continue budgeting your money.
Give Yourself A Reason
Another way to learn budgeting is to reward yourself a solid incentive, which gives you reasons to stick with it, making it work.
Once you make it a goal to get your finances in order, then you’ll find the excess funds to take that well deserved vacation, or afford that luxury you want without going into debt.
So begin by placing reminders on your fridge, wallet, computer screen, or smartphone. What doing so will serve as constant reminders on the reasons why you’ve decided to sacrifice on some of your excess spending.
The Need To Budget
Although this sounds great on paper, what dedicated budgeting requires is remaining disciplined, by learning to dismiss all the emotions which will attempt to tilt your efforts.
Certain emotions like avoiding all the necessary impulse items that you want, such as that new wardrobe, trying out that trendy new restaurant, toys for your kids. Avoid these temptations until you’ve arranged your finances so you can afford them.
Commitment To Finances
It becomes important to get the entire family in the money budgeting process, especially when the money becomes tight and the expenses increases.
So educate the values on why budgeting is important, while teaching how proper money management becomes vital in how it helps in getting the things you want by saving, such as that new computer, without taking on further financial burden.
Stay Disciplined
Don’t fall into the trap of “keeping up with the Jones,” as their personal financial situation is completely different from yours.
Budgeting is all about your own personal set of circumstances and not others. Just because your friends, relatives, or neighbors have just bought a new car, doesn’t mean that you have to.
Instead, pay attention and stick to your budget, allowing it to be your director on how you spend, whether you can afford to buy the things that you want.
The Need To Budget
Budgeting is a necessary protocol that’s needed to control your finances by avoiding debt. So educate yourself, and then take the time to carefully formulate a plan and then stick to it.
Make sure you tweak and monitor it routinely, so you’ll be able to keep yourself along with your family to remain motivated and encouraged by adhering to it.
Make sure that the goals are achievable. Although setting a strict budget may initially be difficult, saving is the only way to get the things you want, while setting a secure financial future.