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10 steps to making a financial budget

10 steps to making a financial budget . MS. LEWIS PERSONAL FINANCE . 1. Budgets are a necessary Evil . They’re the only practical way to get a grip on your spending A budget shows you how your money is being spent . 2. Creating a budget generally requires 3 steps.

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10 steps to making a financial budget

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  1. 10 steps to making a financial budget MS. LEWIS PERSONAL FINANCE

  2. 1. Budgets are a necessary Evil • They’re the only practical way to get a grip on your spending • A budget shows you how your money is being spent

  3. 2. Creating a budget generally requires 3 steps • 1) Identify how your spending your money now • 2) Evaluate your current spending and set goals that take into account your long-term financial goals • 3) Track your spending to make sure it stays within those guidelines

  4. 3. Use software to save grief • Personal finance programs such as “Quicken” or “Microsoft Money” have built in budget-making tools that can create a budget for you

  5. 4. Don’t drive yourself crazy • One drawback of monitoring your money using computer software is that it encourages too much attention to detail. • Once you determine which categories where spending can be cut or expanded, concentrate on those categories

  6. 5. Watch out for cash leakage • If withdrawals from the ATM evaporate from your pocket without apparent explanation, it’s time to keep better records • In general, if you find yourself returning to the ATM more than once a week or so, you need to examine where that cash is going

  7. 6. Spending beyond your limits is dangerous • If you find yourself spending beyond your limits, you’re not alone • Government figures show that many households with a total income of $50,000 or less are spending more than they bring in • This does not mean that you will have to file for bankruptcy, but it is a sign to make some serious spending cuts

  8. 7. Beware of luxuries dressed up as necessities • If your income doesn’t cover your costs, then some of your spending is probably for luxuries- even if you’ve been considering them to be filling a real need

  9. 8. Tithe yourself • Aim to spend no more than 90% of your income • By doing so, you’ll have 10% left to save for your big-picture items

  10. 9. Don’t count on windfalls • When projecting he amount of money you can live on, don’t include dollars that you can’t be sure you’ll receive • Examples: year-end bonuses, tax refunds, or investment gains

  11. 1o. Beware of the spending creep • As your annual income climbs from raises, promotions and smart investing, don’t start spending for luxuries until you’re sure that you’re staying ahead of inflation. • It’s better to use those income increases as an excuse to spend more

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