You've got to pay yourself first before you pay everyone else!Ĭover your Four Walls. That’s food, utilities, shelter and transportation. I believe in putting 10% of your income here-it’s a great way to start your budget with a spirit of generosity! Next, budget for your savings goals, like an emergency fund (depending on your Baby Step, which I'll talk about more in a minute). Pro tip: When you’re making a budget, before you put in all the things you’ll pay for this month, set aside money for giving. It’s time to list your expenses! (Yep, this is when that bank account or statement gets super helpful.)
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Now that you’ve planned for the money coming in, you can plan for the money going out.
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You can adjust later in the month if you make more and add that extra money to your money goal or another budget line. If you’ve got an irregular income, take a look at what you’ve made the last few months and list the lowest amount as this month’s planned income budget line. (Note: You’re working with net income here, meaning what you bring in after taxes or anything else that’s taken out of your paycheck.) Here’s an example: You work weekends as a barista or babysitter? That’s income, and it goes in your budget.Ĭreate separate income budget lines for every paycheck you (and your spouse) get, plus anything extra coming in. Income is any money you plan to get during that month-that means your normal paychecks and any extra money coming your way through a side hustle, garage sale, freelance work or anything like that. That will give you the info you need as you start filling out numbers in your budget. Pro tip: Before you dive into the steps, open up your online bank account or grab your bank statements.
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Just saying.) Either way, it’s totally okay to start by writing out everything on a sheet of paper. It’s what I use to budget-and it’s the best. No matter how you feel about budgeting right now, no matter what money goals you have, and no matter your income-you can make (and keep!) a budget in just five steps.īut first, decide if you’re making a budget on paper, with a spreadsheet, or in an app. Keep reading to see how to make it happen so you can make a budget that works for you. When you learn how to make a budget-and do it every month-you’re giving your money purpose. It’s a plan for what’s coming in and what’s going out. It’s not a restriction on spending-it’s a plan for what you’ll do with your money. Real quick though, let’s define the word budget. Make a New Budget Before the Month Begins.Here’s how to make a budget in five steps. So, here we go-bite by bite, step by step. (You go one bite at a time.) And no one leaps into budgeting like a pro. Because no one eats an elephant by swallowing it whole. For complete and current information on any product, please visit the provider’s website.Making a budget might seem overwhelming at first, but hear this: You can do it. Product information and details vary for Quebec. Be sure to review the provider’s terms and conditions for all products and services displayed on MoneySense.ca. Our Advertisers/partners are also not responsible for the accuracy of the information on our site. Advertisers/partners are not responsible for and do not influence any of the editorial content appearing on MoneySense.ca. The content provided on our site is for information only it is not meant to be relied on or used in lieu of advice from a professional. MoneySense aims to be transparent when we receive compensation for advertisements and links on our site (read our full advertising disclosure for more details). MoneySense is not responsible for content on external sites that we may link to in articles. If you read something you feel is incorrect or misleading, we would love to hear from you. While our editorial team does its best to ensure accuracy, details change and mistakes happen.
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