Need Budget Help? No Problem!

Good budget help can be hard to find.

For most people budgeting can lead frustration, confusion, and disappointment.

Did you know that “budget” is just a fancy word for spending goals?

Yes, you heard me. A budget is just a word that describes a list of goals that show how much you want to spend in different categories like

• Food
• Gas
• Entertainment
• Housing
• etc.

Wow, was that easy or what! Now that we know what a budget is, all we have to do is learn the secrets to doing one.

7 Simple Steps to Budgeting Success

1. Keep it simple
   • What do you spend your money on?
   • What do you want to spend your money on?
   • The goal is to spend less than you earn.

2. Know your stuff
• Keep all your receipts
• Download expense reports from your financial institutions
• Keep track of cash transactions
3. Tools you'll need
• Excel spreadsheet or a calculator and something to write with
• Last month's expense report
• A blank spending plan for this month
4. Form the right habits

• The 1st of every month is a great time to sit down, review and plan
• Pay yourself first - Savings should be the first spending goal you set
5. Develop the proper mindset

• Understand how each financial decision affects your the big picture of your life
• Don't worry about perfection. This is a process that will create awareness and over time lead to better decisions

6. Find a system that works for you

• There are many different ways to organize the data - by hand, spreadsheet, or software program.

  The main thing is… find the one that works for you. If you’re unsuccessful with 1 system, try again until you find one that works.