“You’ve got to find what fits your personality and lifestyle, or you may find it difficult to stick to it.”įor instance, Regions’ budget calculator can help you categorize and track spending for budgeting purposes. It’s just a matter of knowing which one works for you. Plenty of high-tech and low-tech tools can also help you learn how to budget.

Step 3: Use Tools and Technology to Help Budget Putting away at least 10 percent of your take-home income in a separate savings account can help you prepare for an emergency or reach a long-term goal. Determine how much you can save each month, and make sure that is the first money you move. Then, subtract these costs from your monthly income.īefore assigning the rest of your income to discretionary spending, remember to pay yourself first. Discretionary: These are unnecessary expenses, such as dining out and other entertainment costs.Īdd your fixed and flexible expenses, erring on the side of caution for bills that change regularly.Flexible: These are necessary expenses that vary each month, such as utilities, groceries, and gas.Fixed: This includes necessary bills that stay the same from month to month, including mortgage or rent, insurance, alimony, and loan payments.Place each of your expenses into one of three columns: Keep this up for at least a month so that you can get a reliable view of your fixed and variable expenses. Next, track all expenses, no matter how small, including money set aside for charitable giving. “ Budgeting gives you more control of your money - and life,” says Samantha Gregory, Rich Single Momma blogger Step 2: Compare Income to Expenses When Budgetingįirst, add up your take-home pay - after deductions and taxes - without including bonuses or tax refunds.

Rather than thinking of a budget as a drastic monetary diet, see your spending plan as a way to buy your financial freedom. Step 1: Change Your Mindset About Budgets Here are six steps that outline how to budget money in a way you can live with. Putting a plan in place will stop money from evaporating as soon as it materializes. If you want to stop living paycheck to paycheck, you can start by setting limits on your spending.

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