A Guide to Creating the Most Appropriate Budgets for You

Additional Cash in Your Pocket

By: Jim Stephens

Narrated by: Nikki Lynch

Nothing is more desirable than being able to manage our money effectively. After all, the money we wish to manage is frequently hard-won. This is where a budget enters the picture. A correctly implemented budget should enable you to know where your money is going, maximize the utility of each dollar, and save some extra for future use.

The first wise budgeting secret is to establish a goal. What are your objectives? Do you wish to properly allocate your revenue toward bill payments? Do you wish to set aside funds for a large purchase or investment? By establishing a goal, you may mold your budget to best fit your interests.

Second, you'll want to keep track of where your money goes on a regular basis. This comprises bills, significant but routine purchases (such as groceries, health care, and the like), and daily miscellaneous expenses. Only once you've documented where your money often goes will you be able to determine which expenses you may eliminate. Once you've identified these ongoing expenses, explore where you might reduce back. How much do you spend on your morning caffeine fix? What percentage of your income do you spend on newspaper delivery to your front door? The meager two-dollar or five-dollar cost of these modest purchases adds up to more than $3,600 every year! Rather than purchasing a pricey cappuccino or newspaper on paper, set away the amount you would normally pay for these tiny recurring expenditures in a small container. You'll be astonished at how much money you're saving over the course of your previous budget.

Being in debt is a self-perpetuating cycle in and of itself. You're dealing with ongoing payments, not to mention exorbitant interest rates. The best course of action is to pay the bare minimum on all of your bills in order to avoid incurring more late penalties. Whatever financial surpluses you may have, you might choose to increase your payments on your largest debt. This manner, you're concentrating your efforts on accumulating the largest loans first, which have the highest interest rates. By taking this step by step, you'll be shocked at how much money you'll save on your massive bills.

The final and most critical stage is to note down how much money you earn and how much money you spend. You can utilize computerized cash management applications or create your own database sheets. Create a method that works for you and assists you in monitoring your monthly budgeting progress.

©2022 Jim Stephens (P)2022 Jim Stephens