SELF IMPROVEMENT

beyond budgeting
Are you finding it difficult to start budgeting? There are many reasons and excuses for not working on a budget. Here are 3 Budgeting Tips For the Financially Challenged.
1. Dedicate Time
Working on your budget. You routinely pay bills. Then make it a habit to routinely work with your budget too.
If you made a purchase that was not taken into account by the budget, then figure out how to incorporate that purchase into the budget.
As with anything that is new or challenging, keep your budget simple. Do not go overboard with fancy spreadsheets in 10 different color inks. Don't waste time with fancy computer software programs that you will never completely understand. Why build an Excel spreadsheet with 20 tabs all referencing other spreadsheets that would take a mathematical genius or your tax preparer 10 years to figure out.
You can write-up a nice budget with this method. It worked for your great-grandparents. Also, once you have created the budget, continue to keep it simple. Don't add 300 buying categories to the sheet. Unless there is a good reason to track beauty products separately (maybe you think you are overspending in this
category) then just lump it in with your grocery category. Or Pharmacy category. Accurately track how much income is coming in on your budget. Then accurately calculate how much you will spend. If your spending is more than what you bring in, then readjust the budget so that your expenses are lower. And commit to not buying anything beyond what is on the budget.