I created an excel spreadsheet for each month of the year so I can see how much I have to pay.
It has helped me be in control of my spending now I get my Bill's paid off in the 1st week of the month!! Then I put the rest in my emergency fund.
I use an excel spreadsheet to track how much I spend on fixed expenses and biannual & annual expenses.
Good! I use an Excel spreadsheet, but to track my credit card debt and savings. I do paper budgets, though.
Kathryn H: I've been looking for paper budgets, but have not really found any I like. The Kakeibo method has helped me simplify my accounting, but something is still missing.
Could you possibly recommend any paper templates that take sinking-funds into account?
I can save for sinking funds, but when it's time to actually pay the expected expense, I do not know how to record it without it seeming unexpected. (Would you just add the expected expense amount into the income section of the budget even though it isn't technically income?)
I've also been using a spreadsheet to log each and every spend…so helpful to watch and see where your \(have gone. Happy to have\) at the end of each month!
What's the best budget to use if your income fluctuates? I'm a small biz owner and do side gigs on Respondent but never am assured a set amount of money per month.
I was in a similar situation before with payment [due to seasonal work]. The best I could do was to divide what I already had in savings by 6-9 months [depending on my comfort level], and do my best to lower costs of anything that was not necessary.
Assuming you already have a year [though more would be better] of business financial history, you can add the net-income [or losses] together and divide by however many years, then divide by 12 months to get an average of months.
@Kristen O what a great idea!
My husband does that. It was very helpful for planning our wedding.
Where do I learn more about the Kakeibo method?
Great start! I started tracking my budget a couple of years ago in an excel and it is great to see my progress throughout the years.
@Alex W
It is really simple to find articles with search engine. This is not the one I used originally, but it still has the same information: https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/budgeting/kakeibo/
This one, I believe, has a bit more tips from the person who tried it: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/08/how-this-japanese-method-of-saving-money-changed-my-lifeand-made-me-richer.html
Google Sheets has some pretty neat budget templates
I've created an excel for about 3 years now. I need a visual to see where my money is going. It works for me.
I am starting on my budgeting plan today and I am excited about taking this step.
ive tried this and it didnt work did i do something wrong
@Abigail B: Would you elaborate a bit more. There have been several different suggestions on this post (different budget apps, Google-spreadsheets/templates, and "traditional" pen and paper). Which have you tried, and why do you say it didn't work?
You can have a budget and still be in the negative "red" at times (especially when first starting), but it is just a tool to use. Budgets help give information so a person can see more easily the big picture.
Today, with voice recognition apps, including Google Home and Siri, budgeting has become relatively easy and as simple as saying 'Hey Alexa! Create my essentials wishlist for this month'. And voila!
Every month i right down my bills and so i can see how much i would have left over.
tried that it was hard to follow
I’m trying to get my SO on board with a budget/saving sheet but he’s so hard headed! Ugh!! Any ideas of how to help me “talk” to him in a way that won’t make him think I’m blaming him? I’m not- we both have our debt and credit issues but he doesn’t combine ours so I can HELP fix both of ours.
@Johnna W.
I personally like the idea of writing a letter such as in this article. https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-avoid-financial-disagreements-453846 (DISCLAIMER: I have not ever been in a romantic relationship before, so this is a bit more theroretical on my part).
I will say, if your partner is unwilling to combine finances/debt…perhaps focus first on paying off yours and then (by osmosis or otherwise) you and your partner might be more willing to talk about/pay off theirs?
I love it. The longer I used a budget, the more natural everything was! Soon the budget didn't matter. Keep up the great habits :)
great thanks!
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