4 Rules for Creating a Painless Budget

Creating a budget — one that will get you out of debt so you can save money — is a great goal. Taking control of your finances is possible only if you have a spending plan.

But don’t budgets hurt? Not if you do them right.

A successful budget includes a goal — a reason to follow a regimen. That goal should be:

• Specific. “I want to handle money better” could mean anything. Paying only two overdraft fees a month is technically better than your usual five.
• Important. Maybe you’ve always wanted to self-publish a science fiction novel. That’s an intriguing goal, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of an emergency fund or regular contributions to a retirement account.
• Achievable. Sure, it would be great to pay off your mortgage within two years while also clearing $30,000 in student loans. Don’t set yourself up to fail with unrealistic objectives. Do resolve to set reasonable objectives and use the momentum of each success to keep moving toward bigger goals.

Hold yourself accountable

Some goals are short-term, such as paying off a credit card or setting money aside for new winter boots. Others, such as buying a home or saving for retirement, won’t happen overnight.

Personal finance author Liz Weston is a fan of bankruptcy expert and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s 50/30/20 budget: No more than half of after-tax income going toward “must-haves,” 30 percent for “wants” and 20 percent for savings and debt repayment.

Thus, you would put basics like rent and utilities under “must-haves” and the funds for new boots under “wants” — unless your current pair lets slush in at every step.

These categories are somewhat flexible. If paying down consumer debt faster or putting more in retirement is a priority for you, then shoot some of your “wants” dollars toward those goals.

Look for ways to add more cash to the categories that matter most. Here’s where frugal hacks come in handy. Every dollar you don’t spend is a dollar that can be sent toward the future. See these Money Talks News articles for money-saving tactics:

You shouldn’t try to dramatically cut all costs at once, any more than you would try running a marathon before getting into shape. Incorporate money-saving ideas gradually into your lifestyle.

Care for the future you

Retirement planning should take priority over debt repayment. Not contributing to your plan at work means you’re giving up potential company matches. Even if your employer doesn’t match, every dollar you don’t put toward retirement is a dollar that won’t help you later on.

Track those dollars

If you need help budgeting, ask for it. Groups like the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and the Financial Counseling Association of America offer help with getting your finances in line. Often, that advice is free.

Just remember to check any credit counseling organization through the Better Business Bureau and your state attorney general’s office.

Before revamping your spending, figure out where the money is going right now. Some people write down what they spend and create spreadsheets of their expenditures.

However, there’s a much easier way — online budgeting sites/apps such as You Need a Budget, a Money Talks News partner, will track your cash and measure your progress.

Setting limits doesn’t mean nixing future fun, but you need to be aware of how money leaves your hands. Snacks, lapsed promotional offers and banking fees are all examples of small expenses that can wreck your finances.

Monitor your progress

Go over your spending plan regularly to compare it with your actual spending. If you find that you’re busting the budget regularly, it is time to renew your commitment.

Think about why having control over your finances is so important. Remember that both current and future needs will be met only if you get smarter about money practices. Keep yourself motivated by involving your partner or family in the budget-planning process. Or, share budgeting tips with family members and friends. Reward yourself occasionally. Just build the reward into your budget.

Do you have tips for building a budget that works? Share them with us in comments below or on our Facebook page.

Marilyn Lewis contributed to this post.