1
15 ways to stick to budget

How to Create a Budget – 15 Super Simple Ways to Stick To Your Budget

Pin2K
Share
Tweet
2K Shares

We all have our moments in life where we suck at budgeting or how to create a budget. I know I’ve been there and it sucks (well for the most part).

People say we aren’t born with the ability to be a spender however although we are not born with this ability it is definitely a learned trait.

When I was at college I had absolutely known nothing about money. From spending it wisely to saving up for the finer things in life. I felt like a complete financial failure!

Skip a few years in time to now and I’m still learning a lot myself about how to manage money, how to create a budget that is effective and what I should be saving on.

Now I would say that I stick to my budget (most of the time :)) and I think you can too.

Related Articles

15 Super Simple Ways to Stick to Budget

Don’t Forget to Pin This With Friends and Family.

Here are my 15 Super Simple Ways to Stick To Your Budget and How to Create a Budget

#1 Set Aside Savings First

Savings is the backbone of your financial existence. So why not treat it this way?

I know it can be a struggle at first but creating this habit will make you stick to your budget more effectively than not.

When you get paid you need to look at your overall income and put aside what is reasonable in your savings. It is essentially the money you can live without.

A good rule of thumb is to put 20% away in your savings account.

#2 Create a Monthly Budget

Creating a budget to save money is something everybody needs to have under their belt. By creating an estimate of the expenditure for a given time you are effectively managing money.

If you manage money well you’ll be able to spend less and save more.

#3 Decide How to Create a Budget 

There are numerous ways to budget effectively. I suggest you take the time to learn what type of budget suits you the best.

  • Zero-sum Budget – This type of budget is allocating your total monthly income to all necessary expenses, savings or debt. You have to plan it so that the difference between your income and your expenses are more than $0 at the end of each month.
  • 50/20/30 Budget – This is a very simple type of budget. From your overall monthly income allocate 50% to needs, 20% to savings/debts and 30% to wants.
  • Debt Free Budget – Your main focus for this type of budget is to reduce your debt in a short period of time.

#4 Give Yourself a Weekly Allowance

Remember the days of getting pocket money from your parents and you wished you had more?

Well, now you’re the boss at allocating a weekly allowance to yourself.

If you have a small allocation in your budget to allow for a weekly allowance then stick to it, and when it’s gone it’s gone.

#5 Plan Meals & Shop Ahead

Eating out can really cut into your budget!

Although it is a nicety to have it’s not a necessity. When you manage to plan meals and shop ahead, over time you develop a sense to eat out less.

15 Super Simple Ways to Stick to Budget

#6 Use Cash Instead of Cards

Credit and debit cards are the most useful thing to have when going out. It creates a stress free-spending environment (unless you have maxed out your card of course).

By using cash that you have set aside for an outing or dinner you are carefully planning what you are spending. This is probably one of the best budget tips I’ve picked up on.

#7 Set Goals

Setting financial goals to improve your budget and pay off credit cards or debt and gets you to your dreams quicker such as buying a house.

You are more likely to reach your goals if you define what they are.

#8 Build an Emergency Fund

By building an emergency fund for you or your family you keep your family functioning for 6 or more months.

This tip is more about preparing yourself for a financial disaster more than anything. However, it still has a lot of aspects of sticking to a budget.

#9 Avoid Spending Sparks

So you’re well into saving and your budgeting is going well but then you have a small hiccup.

Yep, we’ve all been there! These spending sparks can happen at any instant and can have adverse effects on your budget and progress.

To combat spending sparks, just avoid the triggers that will make you go crazy.

For example, my trigger is going to the supermarket and always buying a tonne of candy and chocolate. I avoid this by going to the supermarket on a full stomach.

#10 Focus on Creating

Instead of worrying too much about cutting your budget back and saving, why not start creating.

Creating can be anything from products, services, digital content or even starting a blog.

I started this blog not so long ago and I’m already making money with sponsored posts and advertisements.

Whenever I’m over trying to save money I turn my focus into making more money to add into my budget after all full-time jobs are overrated.

You can join my free blog course to learn how to start a successful blog.

#11 Include the Family

If you are finding creating a budget a little overwhelming then it’s time to turn to extra hands.

Ask your partner or the kids to help you with creating a shopping list, collect coupons and look for amazing deals.

Remember that allowance you keep giving them each week? Why not use that as an incentive to help you out.

#12 Have Budget Driven Friends & Acquaintances

The best way to get rid of unnecessary spending habits is to surround yourself by friends that have the same interests.

Those friends will also have some great frugal living tips that they may share with you or alternatively, share some with them.

This is probably a really good way to improve your budget.

#13 Read Budget Books

Budgeting books are a great resource to help you out with sticking to a budget.
There are many books out there which help you get into the right headspace and set you up for great results and I’m going to share the following with you:

The five budgeting books I’m recommending you have are:

There are many books that have influenced my understanding of money management and budget creation.

#14 Allow the Occasional Treat

Saving money and having a budget is great and if you’ve been doing a good job at it then there’s no reason not to have a treat.

The treat can be anything you prefer but do keep in mind not to go overboard as that may hinder the great progress you’ve made.

#15 Use Budget Spreadsheets

When making your monthly budget don’t settle for the conventional pen and pad to record your information.

Use spreadsheets or software (if you have access to any affordable software).

Spreadsheets can make a mundane task such as budget maintaining, progress reporting quite fun and entertaining.

If you don’t want to make your own spreadsheets or tables for your budgets, then just go to pinterest and search for free budget resources.

15 Super Simple Ways to Stick to Budget

There are my 15 Super Simple Ways to Stick To Your Budget

I hope you managed to read them all or at least some of them.

If you like what you read then please,

Save This Pin For Later!

Important Resources

These are companies and courses/services I've personally vetted and recommend.

Related Posts

5 Simple Ways on How To Save Money on Electric Bill

10 Healthy Habits to Get Out of Debt

25 Brilliant Penny Pinching Tips To Try This Year to Catapult Savings

10 Frugal Living Tips to Take Control of Holiday Expenses
Marco B @ Bottom Line Cents
 

Marco is the founder of Bottom Line Cents, a blog about travel and personal finance. He primarily talks about ways to make money online with side income. He has paid off over $40,000 in student debt due to his side gigs and his thriving nature to succeed.

  • Hannah says:
    November 8, 2019 at 10:59 pm

    These are great tips! Thank you for posting.

    Reply
    • >