Budgeting. Just saying it leaves a nasty taste in your mouth. Plus, it takes work! Writing and sticking to a financial plan takes time and effort, trial and error, research and forethought. So why bother? You have limited resources when it comes to time as well as money, so why put in the time and energy into this particular venture?
Budgets aren’t just for the broke.
Or maybe you feel like you don’t really need a budget. You’re doing fine as it is, so what’s the fuss about? Well, budgets aren’t just for the broke. They are for everyone who wants to be in control of their money, rather than the other way around.
Everyone’s why will look different on the surface, but at the heart, we all want the same thing: to live life unhindered by the stress of money.
The goal isn’t more money. The goal is living life on your own terms. — Chris Brogan
For me and my family, being in control is worth the time it takes. I can spend some of my time making sure I keep our finances in line, or I can spend all of my time stressing about them. That’s a no-brainer, right?
Now stick with me for a few more minutes. I know it doesn’t always feel like a fair trade, but I want to give you some tools to help with that. If you are shaking your head at me right now, thinking “girl, you don’t even understand how much a budget would stress me out and crush my soul”, I want you to understand something fundamental about budgeting. It’s something I believe passionately enough to not only spend time doing it for myself, but to spend time helping you do it, too. Ready? Here it is: When you conquer your finances, you don’t have to fear them anymore.
Don’t let your finances run your life. You are in charge here! Knowledge is power, and when you can see and understand what’s going on with your money, you will be in a position to take control and love your life, regardless of your financial circumstances.
When you conquer your finances, you don’t have to fear them anymore.
You can do this. Whether you are in a good place financially, or you don’t know how you’re going to put gas in your car tomorrow, or you don’t even remember the password to your bank app. It is worth the effort, and I’m here for you.
To get that goal turned into action, let’s start with some brainstorming questions:
- What are your priorities?
- What are the things you really look forward to every day/week/month?
- Are there areas of spending that feel out of control?
Keep in mind that none of these answers have to be set in stone. Life changes, priorities change, and budgets change along with them! So whether you’re writing your very first budget, scrambling to figure out how you got so far off-track, or are ultra-organized and checking in quarterly, this is a crucial step in the process.
Now that you have an idea of which areas need to be prioritized and which can be reined in, we can piece this together. Get started with my step by step guide to writing an effective budget.
Doing All Things 