how can we make budgeting easier?

Budgeting can be hard. creating a plan in advance can help make Budgeting more doable. give feedback

I'd say that it's true. However, if you first keep track of your spending over the course of several months, creating an accurate budget becomes much easier.
Once you have an accurate budget, then you can adjust it to suit your needs.

I need the discipline to write everything down that I spend. I track the usual bills due but not the extra spending. Has it helped anyone to write every expense down or just monitor your regular ones and your checking account?

great educational fun videos - Two Cents!

I need the discipline to write everything down that I spend. I track the usual bills due but not the extra spending. Has it helped anyone to write every expense down or just monitor your regular ones and your checking account?

Hi @Janna

Budgeting looks a little different for everyone! Some of our members budget by tracking everything they spend right from when they get their paycheck, and others plan months in advance. Check out these 6 steps we have to create the perfect budget!

https://www.saverlife.org/money-101/6-steps-to-create-the-perfect-budget

–SaverLife Moderator Team

Great video posted here. It clearly brought the point across of what budgeting is all about.

@Janna S. Personally, I find it helpful to write each of my expenses down AS IT HAPPENS, and keep a running total balance.
The difference from writing every expense and what I do now is TRACK CATEGORIES. This way is less stressful and less infuriating for me.

**I tried to track EVERY EXPENSE before: "junk" food, crochet-supplies, office supplies, clothing, medicine, doctor's visits (etc.)
I found that this was stressful, time-consuming, and infuriating. It has its purpose and was helpful in teaching my my "sink hole" blind areas, but wasn't for me.
Choosing categories for the expenses helps me, bu

Q: "Has it helped anyone to write every expense down or just monitor your regular ones and your checking account?"
A: Yes, tracking "every expense [category]" helps me.

As the Saverlife Moderator pointed out: everyone budgets slightly different. Experiment. Give yourself time to try one before jumping to another (I find it easier to "change/alter" systems after a year, or at least [if the money planning is as if your pulling your teeth] at the start of a new quarter of the year after 3-month trial-time has passed.

Sorry, I didn't realize some of my type was deleted.

• Choosing cetegories for theh expenses helps me, but it took a while (3-4 years) for me to whittle/combine my categories to a more manageable [for me] amount. (From 13+ to 4 [expense categories]).

Still trying to find that budgeting style that works for me. I'm the only responsible one in my household even though I'm not the only adult and it's frustrating that no one else takes contributing to the house budget seriously.

I’m trying to budget but when the funds aren’t there how do you do it?

@Stacey A.

Budgeting is just a way to see where money [funds] are going. If the funds are not there, you currently have a negative [amount] budget, but still a budget.

First would be to track expenses.

• Is there anything in those that are not necessary for life?
• Out of those necessary, is there any that can be substituted with perhaps a generic brand?
• • If it is essential medicine that is taking up a majority of the funds that "aren't there", is there a help program you can apply to; are any of those medicines on Good Rx?

Savings by its nature is finite. It uses a set amount to calculate.

If there truly are no funds, then the question is: How to create/earn more?
Do you have a recycling program that pays per pound?
Can you do yard-work or other tasks?
Online survey sites [mentioned in SaverLife's forums] can help, but usually do not pay much.
Can you make things to sell? Or fix things that are broken? (Do you have a skill you can charge a fee to use?)

I would like to try recording every expense. Seeing where my money is going and exactly how much I’m spending will be eye opening. On a different note, I am taking full advantage of the free financial literacy zoom meetings. Hearing similar messages on how to manage finances during a pandemic, has been great.

Can you post the link of the free financial literacy zoom meetings.

zoom meetings sound like a great idea