Budgeting 101 for Beginners Around the World

Updated on June 12, 2020

Budgeting and saving money is not an easy thing for many people as it requires a great deal of discipline. It is easy for a person to spend on nonessentials even if they are committed to a spending plan- budget. Having a budget can give you peace of mind and enable you to manage your money. A Budget is a tool that you need to be in charge of your money and help you achieve your financial goals.

A budget is a financial document that you create to help you measure and manage your income and expenditure within a specified period, like a month or a year. A budget can help you monitor the amount you are earning compared to what you are spending and saving.

1)            Why Do You Need A Budget?

A budget will offer you an action plan. It will show you where your money is going each month. It will also help you achieve the financial goals that you are working toward. It will also help you manage your debts and help you repay them.

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2)            How Do You Create A Budget?

Creating your first budget may sound complicated, but that should not be the case. Here are some things that need to have in mind when creating a budget.

3)            Determine Why You Need To Save

Understanding the main reason why you need a budget is an excellent place to start. You need to define your goals before you begin saving since this can affect your choices when you begin the process. Some of the reasons why people create budgets include:

·                     Looking for ways to save

·                     Avoid overspending on nonessentials

·                     Avoid couple-fight over money

·                     Help you achieve your goals

·                     Getting out of debt

·                     Try to break the paycheck cycle

·                     Learn only to spend the money they have.

4)            Calculate Your Net Monthly Income

Having an accurate monthly income is the key to a successful budget. When you have no idea how much you earn, it can be challenging to allocate cash towards the expenditure, saving, and paying debts. You need to know that calculating your monthly income is more than just checking the paycheck. You need to factor in revenue from all sources, including:

·                     Salary income

·                     Cash from side gigs

·                     Business income

·                     Income from investments

 If your income is from a business, the best approach to help your budget is by paying yourself a salary. This implies that you need to decide on a monthly ‘salary’ to base your budget on and when there is extra cash you save for bad days. 

5)            Check On Your Current Spending Habits

For you to come up with a realistic budget, it is essential to know your current spending habits. Unfortunately, if your budget is not practical, it is more of a wishlist.

It is not possible to have a realistic budget if you have no idea where and what you are spending your money on currently. Financial experts recommend one to track their spending habits for at least 30 days to have a clear picture of their spending. You can use an app, spreadsheet, or financial statements to track spending.

6)            Start With Basic Needs

When budgeting, give priority to the basic needs- food, utilities, clothing, shelter, and transportation. After your basic needs are taken care of, you can assign some funds for other things. Do not forget to set aside some funds to pay your debt if you have any.

7)            Decide How Much To Save

To enable you to achieve the financial goals, you need to determine how much you need to save for every goal. When you are more specific on the amount you save for each goal, you are most likely to achieve it. However, if you find it difficult to follow this process, make a plan to save some percentage of your income monthly.

These are the essentials that you need to know if you want to start budgeting. However, you need to know that creating a budget is one thing, and following it is another thing. So, ensure that you try as much as you can to stick to your budget.

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.