Reforming the Feminine ContentHow To Make A Budget And Keep It
Sorry, I didn’t mean to trick you with a “How To” title, because, I’m not going to be telling you how to make a budget and keep it. I need help with it. I know technically, if I sit down with my husband and write a budget, I could just follow it, and save money, but it seems like it’s a lot harder to keep a budget, than to talk about it.
So I need some advice from ya’ll. Men and women are welcome to comment.
What do you do to make a budget, and HOW in the world do you stick with it?!
I haven’t yet experienced making a budget for a full-time income, but I was raised to make one even when I was working part-time in high school. I just divvied my expected income up by percentages… the best way is usually by month. Dave Ramsey has great budgeting advice in his Total Money Makeover; you should read it!
My friend Heather who started the financial ministry here at MH says that it doesn’t help much to say “no you can’t have that, no you can’t buy that.” She says what you do is decide what you DO want with your money. So when you see that coffee you say, “I could have this latte now… or I could have that coat from Anthropology at the end of the month!” Thinking this way helps me a lot, because I lose it on my budget through small things, not big things. So it’s good to remind myself of the bigger things I want more than the little instant-gratification purchases I’m prone to make…
I feel like buying something nice at the end of the month, isn’t even an option though. I think those things at the end of the month is what gets me in trouble! AHHH.
http://www.debtproofliving.com
This is my home page and I have been learning from Ms.Hunt for years. But in my circumstance all effort is wasted if my husband and I are not in agreement first. A clear vision between us is what makes Anything effective in our reality.
Practically, because hubby is the earner and I am the budgeter, one thing that helps for him is to have a bit of pocket money that is “free”. It keeps him from feeling deprived, keeps me from having to be the Permission giver for every little thing. He works his butt of for us, and I’m thinking a little bit of sushi money is a good thing!
Heidi
i agree with the Dave Ramsey thing, i have learned so much from him. also i think just starting keeping track of where your money goes is good. i was surprised when i started writing everything how much of my money goes to food. its crazy.
The book recommended above is fantastic! Here are a few things that have helped me stick with ours . . .
*cash envelopes - I’m totally visual and seeing exactly how much is left in the food envelope for the week really helps me keep it under control! I hate digging into the entertainment or (gasp) clothes envelopes to make ends meet! We have agreed that those are the first to go.
*Long term goals - I know this isn’t super motivating for everyone, but knowing that we are saving for something (a house, car, vacation, child’s education) that I want more than a latte or a new shirt really helps me stick to it!
*Freedom - It takes a while to figure out the right amount for each catagory but there is such a freedom when you do. I no longer worry about how much we are spending for food or clothes because I know how much we CAN spend! I hope that made sense.
Hi Candice,
I really struggle with sticking within a certain budget also, especially since I’m self-employed and my income varies each month. The thing that has helped me the most was going through the Financial Ministry at MH like Adriel mentioned. Seeing my finances as God’s rather than my own, and seeing the big picture with the spreadsheet that Heather created for me was the motivation I needed last year to really start living by my conviction to spend money wisely and stop wondering where it all went.
Anyone at Mars Hill can go through the free financial coaching by emailing money@marshillchurch.org.
Trust me, spending 2 hours with a budget coach is one of the most rewarding things you’ll do! Many of my community group members have done it and have been really hesitant to go through the process beforehand. Afterward they all tell me that it wasn’t “bad” at all - rather it was rewarding, liberating, and gave them a much better understanding of financial stewardship. Try it! What do you have to loose?
After going through the coaching last year I was able to create an organized plan for saving, tithing, and spending, as well as goals for the year. Because I went ahead and followed the plan I ended up paying off a school loan in a years’ time that probably would have taken me three years to pay off had I kept approaching money the same haphazard and unintentional way that I had been previously.
This is something that is HUGE to learn as young as you can! Being a good steward of our money is a command. Having a budget is the first step and a great one. From there if writing checks and using credit cards is not helping you stay on your budget I recommend going cash and using the envelope system for everything but your rent and some of your other bills.
We have been working with someone from the money ministry just to have some one else’s eyes to see how we could be looking at our budget differently The results have been amazing. Going cash has really helped. Its been a fun game between Pastor Dick and I to see how much cash we can have left at the end of the month.
A budget is meant to help you feel free and enjoy spending your money and not feeling guilty when you do. It takes discipline to stick to it. And if there isn’t enough money for the month one might need to get another way of bringing in income. We find most of the people we talk to its a lack of planning that costs them so much money like not eating at home and going out way to much.
Oh how I could go on! Hope all these ideas from everyone helps:)