Creating a Budget

Creating a Budget

Step One: Keep Track of What you Spend

We pay for the items we need in many different ways - we spend cash, credit, debit, and we even auto-pay bills. It’s important to have a system in place to capture all this spending.

Luckily, there are digital tools to help you keep track of your spending. Look for free tools that will group all your spending in one place. Take a look at a couple months of spending. Total up everything you spent and divide your spending into large categories –housing, food, utilities, entertainment, shopping, savings, and everything else.

Step Two: Create Your Budget

Now you know where your money is actually going. But is it going where it should? Create a budget that you can stick to. Look at places you can cut back in order to pay down high-interest debt and save. Not sure where your money should be going? Check out our 

Step Three: Stick to your Budget

Putting together a budget is easy: the harder part is sticking to it. The key to this is to go back to step one and keep track of your spending. Each week, check your finances to make sure you are staying within your budget. You can do this by using a cash, or envelope system, for example having one envelope for the money you save. one for the money you spend, and a third for money you donate. You can also keep track with a software program, online financial management tool, or mobile app – or you can simply use pen and paper to keep track of your spending.