Easy Budgeting: 3 Step Budget Made Easy System
A Budget Doesn't Have To Be Confusing
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The most common thing I hear when talking with people about their finances is that they don't know how to make a budget, or they've tried and it just hasn't worked for them.
So I created the Budget Made Easy System, and am giving it away FREE! I feel so strongly that this can help people, I don't want any roadblocks to you getting it – so it's FREE!
Having a budget is the key to taking control of your finances. Not having a budget is like having a car with no wheels – you're going to struggle to get where you want to be. You CAN do this! I believe in you!!
Let's Dig In!
The Budget Made Easy System
Step 1: Find out where your money is going
The first step to effective money management is creating a finding out where your money is going. I often find people skip this step when they want to begin getting their finances in order – because they are focused on making a budget. However, finding out where your money went, is key to being able to get your finances in order.
Even if you feel like you already know your pain points in your finances, I've found that actually taking the last 2 months of statements and sorting them by category really helps visualize the dollar amounts and where they are being spent.
***Pro Tip – I've created a workbook to make it easier for you to do. It's completely free. Use the coupon code SAHM.
Step 2: Tell your money where to go!
Once you've found out where your money went, now you can be clear about where you need your money to go! So, the next step to effective money management is creating a budget. A budget provides you with a clear picture of your income, expenses, and financial goals. As a stay-at-home mom, budgeting can be your best friend.
** Track Your Income
- Identify all sources of income, including your spouse's salary and any additional income streams.
- Calculate your total monthly income, keeping in mind any irregular or seasonal earnings.
** List Your Expenses
- Create a comprehensive list of your monthly expenses, such as rent or mortgage, utilities, groceries, childcare, and transportation.
- Categorize your expenses as fixed (unchanging) and variable (fluctuating).
** Set Financial Goals
- Decide on your short-term and long-term financial goals, such as building an emergency fund, paying off debt, or saving for your children's education.
- Determine how much money you need to allocate to each goal.
***Pro Tip – Use my Budget Made Easy System – this will help you lay out your bills and tell your money where to go, since you now know if you used the Where'd My Money Go Workbook. The Budget Made Easy System is also FREE with code SAHM.
Step 3: Be the BOSS of your Money!
Finally, eliminate those unnecessary expenses. Review your spending habits and identify non-essential expenses that can be reduced or eliminated, such as dining out or subscription services.
***Pro Tip – This may be an unpopular opinion, but in our home, we only have one streaming service at a time. We have Amazon tv, because it's part of our prime membership, and then we choose one other service at a time. Currently we are watching Netflix and binge watching all series there that we want. Next month, we may choose another one. I found that we were paying for several different streaming services and would go weeks without watching some of them, so it just made sense to save that money.
Check out this video as a visual guide to use the budget made easy system.
Also, be sure to check out some of my other money saving content here:
15 Ways to Save on Dental and Vision
11 Ways to Save On Medical and Health Expenses
Now that you've got the basics down, check out this post for 53 ways to save on expenses.
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