Everything You Need to Know About Budgeting

Are you new to the world of budgeting and not sure where to start?

Well, friend, your search across the great expanse of the internet just ended, because we’ve put everything you need to know about budgeting in one place!

Our hope is that you’ll see the budget for what it truly is: an easy approach to total life-change!

What is Budgeting?

A budget is a tool that helps you track your finances—it’s a detailed plan of your income and expenses for a given time period.

Simply put, a budget is a plan for your money.

Without a budget you’ll earn money and spend money. You might even save money. But you won’t tell your money what to do, and inevitably, you’ll watch as it passes through your fingers.

Creating a budget puts a stop to mindless spending by bringing every dollar you make to the forefront of your brain. And when that happens, there’s nothing you and your money can’t do!

Budgeting Defined

Before we talk about what a budget is, let’s talk about what it’s not.

Keeping a stack of receipts at the bottom of your purse does not equal budgeting. Neither does paying your bills on time (although you should definitely do that!). We don’t even count making a plan for some of your money while neglecting the rest.

If you’ve tried any of the above tactics and they didn’t seem to make a difference, there’s a good reason: You weren’t actually budgeting. In a way, you were freestyling.

Powerful budgeting—budgeting that changes everything—includes . . .

A plan that’s written down or stored digitally.
A plan that’s created before the month begins.
A plan that accounts for every dollar you’ll earn.
A plan that gives every dollar you’ll spend a name.

Pretty approachable, right? Don’t worry if you’re still a bit overwhelmed or confused—just keep reading!

Why Should I Budget?

So why should you add one more responsibility to your already busy life?

The effort required to create a budget looks kind of like the habit of a weekly meal prep. You put in a little work on a Sunday afternoon to get a whole week of pre-portioned lunches and almost-made dinners.

Budgeting takes a bit of work up front but provides a whole month of rewards.

The Benefits of Budgeting

Let’s chat about some of those rewards. Budgeting might be right for you if:

You’re looking for peace of mind when it comes to money.
You’d like to take control of your finances.
You’re ready to reach your financial goals.

As we mentioned, a budget is a written plan that accounts for every dollar you’ll earn and every dollar you’ll spend. Consider how different that definition looks from your current approach to money.

When you make money decisions before your paycheck arrives, you tell your money where to go instead of wondering where it went. This works regardless of your financial situation:

If you’re in debt and unable to keep up with all of the mounting bills: A budget enables you to prioritize your payments and take action toward reducing debt. When you know what’s coming in and what’s going out, you can proactively reach out to bill collectors to make payment arrangements for what you owe.
If you have credit card debt and are living paycheck to paycheck: A budget lets you know exactly how much money is going toward debt and allows you to start a debt snowball. That way you can pay off debt fast, so you can not only start living now, but also saving for the future.
If you’re out of debt but living paycheck to paycheck: A budget encourages you to find extra money—cash you might be throwing away without even realizing it—and put it toward building an emergency fund or saving for large and unexpected expenses.
If you’re living the good life with an income that’s more than enough: A budget inspires you to make the most of your money. Maybe you’ll pay off your home early, take a dream vacation with the whole extended family to Hawaii, or give generously to people in need.

Budgeting Changes Everything

The monthly budget, practiced year after year, acts as the foundation that supports everything else you want to do.

Yes, everything. You know what that means? Total financial freedom!

Manage your money well for a consistent period of time and you might just be able to:

Ditch your day job for your dream job.
Live where you really want to live.
Leave a legacy your mom would be proud of.

Limit, meet sky.

Which Budgeting Method Should I Use?

If you want to make the most of your money, you need to start at zero. Sounds weird, we know. But a zero-based budget makes sure you give every single dollar a job to do.

The Power of a Zero-Based Budget

Pretend you’re counting calories for the month. Now make note of only the foods you eat at mealtimes. Don’t include mid-morning treats, afternoon snacks or late-night desserts.

Sounds like a fun way to count calories—but not an effective one.

Some people apply this thinking to their monthly budget. They make note of the big stuff—like a mortgage payment and utility bills—but pretend other smaller money matters don’t matter.

The zero-based budget encourages you to really think about how you spend all your money. When you’re budgeting, you’ll be able to clearly see where you might put your hard-earned cash to better use. Of course, “better use” looks different from one person to another. After you’ve been budgeting for a while, you might find “extra” money in your account each month. Then you can decide to:

Pay off debt
Buy a home
Save for retirement
Give to people in need
Have a little (or a lot!) of fun

You choose up front and on purpose where you want your money to go. In fact, many budgeters report finding money the first—yes, the first!—time they create a zero-based budget.

Think about it: One month you’re tossing cash around on toys your kids play with once, a shirt you don’t even like anymore, and snacks you definitely ate but maybe shouldn’t have. But the next month you eliminate all that mindless spending, and you have $75 to put toward that living room couch you thought you’d never be able to buy.

A pretty empowering feeling, if you ask us. And all thanks to a zero-based budget!

How Should I Get Started With Budgeting?

We’ll assume this question implies intent. Bravo! You’re doing it! Welcome to the rest of your life. We’re so excited to help you get moving in the right direction with your money. Let’s dive on in!

Before you sit down and make a plan to take control of your money, be sure to gather the necessary information and supplies:

Projected income for the coming month
Recent bills and spending totals (last month’s bank statement is helpful here)
Financial goals
Spouse or accountability partner
A positive attitude

If you find yourself guessing on some of the numbers, that’s totally okay! The more you practice budgeting, the better you’ll get at estimating your income and expenses.

How to Create Your First Monthly Budget

With your spouse or accountability partner by your side, get to work and follow the steps below to create a budget that works.

1. Budget before the month begins.For example, you’ll work on your May budget the last week (or so) of April.

2. List all income for the month ahead.Include regular paychecks, bonuses, and money from side jobs or gifts.

3. List every expense for the month ahead.Include giving, saving and spending. Don’t forget bills, debt, memberships, food, clothing, gas, entertainment, and anything else you might spend money on.

4. Move money around until income minus expenses equals zero.Maybe you’ll reduce your entertainment spending in order to increase your savings, or perhaps you’ll reduce your restaurant spending in order to buy a new pair of sandals. Keep moving things around until you have a plan that works for you.

That’s it! You’re officially a budgeter.

How to Make a Zero-Based Budget

Guess what? If you followed our guidelines above for creating your first budget, you already made a zero-based budget. Go, you! But let’s take a moment to break things down a bit more.

A zero-based budget means your income minus your expenses equal zero.

Here’s how you’ll get there:

1. List your total monthly income.

2. Start with fixed expenses and regular bills.

3. Add in variable expenses. Think groceries, entertainment, clothing, and more.

4. Don’t forget about giving, saving and paying off debt. Once you get the hang of zero-based budgeting, we recommend prioritizing your budget in the following order: Give, save, and then spend.

As you work toward zero, be wary of the miscellaneous category. We love this line item for when your baby runs out of diapers again, or when you and your spouse decide to grab a new patio umbrella while it’s on sale. But you shouldn’t be piling up the numbers just to hit zero. Make sure you’re really okay with the amount you’ve allocated to miscellaneous to make sure you’re not overspending.

Bonus Budgeting Tips

Want to take your budget to the next level? You know you do!

Work your way through the budget tips below. And as you do, get ready, because you’re about to experience a serious money makeover.

1. Get your budgeting percentages right.

This tip is important because it could prevent you from overspending from month to month. Each time you budget, take a look at how your budget matches up to our recommended budget percentages. If you can, break your budget up like this:


Category	Percentage of Overall Spending
Giving	10-15%
Housing	25–35%
Utilities	5–10%
Food	10–15%
Transportation	10–15%
Health	5–10%
Insurance	10–25%
Personal	10-15%
Recreation	5-10%
Saving	10-15%

Keep in mind that your budget percentages will change as you pay off debt or earn more income. Treat this list as a guideline, not a hard and fast rule.

2. Plan a monthly budget date night

Grab your calendar and circle one Sunday each month (or whatever day works for you). You and your honey (or your accountability partner) have big plans! In just one conversation a month, you can cover the basics and beyond. Talk about your financial goals, plus the details of your upcoming budget. Dream, discuss and make money decisions.

When you budget with your spouse, you’ll both bring unique strengths to the table and (we have no doubts about this one) you’ll grow closer together as the months move along.

3. Stay motivated to budget.

Budgeting is no get-rich-quick scheme. It’s a lifestyle.

In the coming months and years, you’ll enjoy moments of big payoff along with seasons of the budgeting doldrums. Stay motivated toward reaching your big money goals by developing healthy budgeting habits and by filling your ears with stories of others’ success.

4. Make adjustments to your budget.

You’re a professional budgeter now, so you’re already tracking your spending. But what should you do when you totally blow your budget? Easy! Make an adjustment.

Let’s say you went out to dinner for a friend’s birthday. The whole table split the bill, and it’s a bit more than you planned to spend. In fact, it wipes out your restaurant category for the month and then some leaving you with a $25 deficit.

No worries! Pull up your budget and look around until you find a spare $25. You may need to pull from multiple categories or sacrifice spending on new clothes until next month. Make note of the change in your budget and proceed in peace.

5. Track your spending.

A budget is a plan for your money. When you track your spending, you’re simply making sure the plan works. Keep your receipts and track spending.

What You Can Expect in the First Three Months of Budgeting

First things first—acknowledge that today you’re a novice budgeter, but in three months you’ll be a know-it-all. The time in between might feel a bit challenging. And that’s okay!

Recognize this now, and you’ll be better prepared to stick with budgeting when new frustrations come your way.

In the first month, you’ll probably have a flop or two (or twenty!). Again, that’s okay.

Keep in mind that past knowledge helps you plan for future success. A big part of your job in the first month is to make note of all the numbers: What did you predict accurately? Where will you need to make adjustments? Use that information to help you plan better for the upcoming months.

Continue in this pattern for the next 60 days as you:

Evaluate and reevaluate your spending amounts.
Get specific with your line items, perhaps breaking the clothing category down by family member or entertainment category into separate lines for date night and family fun.
Look for opportunities to save more money and prioritize money goals.

After the first three months, you’ll have three budgets under your belt. So now you have a handle on money coming in and money going out. And any “extra” cash you’ve found along the way can help you crush your money goals.

Things to Consider When Budgeting

Maybe you’re reading through this handy guide and thinking to yourself, Sounds great . . . on paper. After all, not everyone enjoys a predictable income and predictable expenses, month after month after month.

Not to worry, friends! We’ve got you covered.

How to Budget on an Irregular Income

Yep, even if you don’t know how much money you’ll bring in from month to month, you can still tell it what to do. This plan works well for anyone with an irregular income—entrepreneurs, freelancers, and commission-based employees. Here’s the details:

Determine the lowest possible income for the upcoming month by looking at what you’ve brought in over the last few months.
Budget according to that number, covering your necessities first and then your wants.
If you make more money than planned, add the extra income to your budget.
Be sure to give every extra dollar a name by working toward zero again.

You might also want to start a special fund to set aside money during those months of plenty. That way you’ll have extra help to get you through seasons of not-quite-enough.

How to Budget for Unexpected Expenses

The best way to prepare for unexpected expenses is to expect them. In fact, you might as well call these expenses overlooked.

Count on your roof leaking during a monsoon, the car breaking down on the way to grandma’s house, and your kid growing two inches the week before he starts high school.

Be ready for whatever comes your way with these simple steps:

Make a list of possible unexpected or overlooked expenses.
Estimate the cost of each expense.
Decide how much money you’ll put toward each expense month to month.
Designate a line item in your budget for each expense and create a fund in your budget. With a fund, you’re ready for any unexpected expense life might throw at you.

Budgeting for unexpected expenses protects your emergency fund from being used on Johnny’s new pants. Save that cash for more important things, like the first time he backs into your car with . . . your other car.

Get specific and make your budget work for you.