Budget planing with calculator and pie charts.
The primary purpose of budgeting is setting a goal which will help you get the most use out of your money. Furthermore, budgets help you stay on track and avoid unnecessary expenses.
However, it does not mean that you have to create a complicated and somewhat unattainable goal.
It can be as simple as you want it to be, like saving up for event tickets. Or, something more ambitious – retirement at the age of 50, for example.
Here are some ways you can use your budget to help you get what you have always wanted:
Build savings in case of an emergency
Having that extra security blanket is vital if you want to live comfortably. Therefore, you can save your money and build cash reserves which will help you in the hour of need. They should cover three to six months of expenses, and you can use them whenever you want.
Life without worry
Living beyond your means can stress you out, and get you into trouble with your bank.
Just because you are placing everything on your credit card, it does not mean that you are not spending money. And, since you can never be too sure about your current employment, you should try not to spend in advance.
Besides, thinking about your next paycheck is detrimental if you want to fulfill some of your long-term goals.
If you are sharing all costs with your partner, then putting away one paycheck every month will allow you to have more flexibility in the future.
Achieving short-term goals
If you want something that might break your budget a little bit, then you could try finding substitutes for other expenses in your life. It could be anything along the lines of not going to dinners so often, and cutting down your grocery bill.
Thinking about your future
You can find apps or calculators that will help you determine how much you should save each month to retire at a certain age. However, they will give you a general estimate, so you could always try a few of them to get a number you are comfortable with.
Then, you can make a certain amount of money a non-negotiable expense and adjust your other needs accordingly.
Save money for fun activities
If you focus just on the goals that are fear-motivated, then you are at risk of spending more money. Therefore, treat yourself from time to time to avoid getting too stressed about money.
It does not have to be anything extravagant – a vacation, movie nights, or anything else fun related.
Get out of debts
Debts can eat away your savings, so you should pay them off before you invest your money further. Student loans and credit card interest rates are high, so you should not waste any time.
However, other debts, like mortgage and auto loan, have a lower interest rate. Therefore, it is better if you invest some of your money instead of paying them off early.
Dodge unnecessary debts
Financing your car can actually make you lose money all year round. So can student loans and buying a home while going into debt. Therefore, try not to spend significant amounts of money on things that might not pay off in the future.
Automatize your savings
BUDGETING word cloud, business concept
Create an automatic transfer of a part of your paycheck to your savings. You can then avoid spending it on useless things which add no value to your life, and save up for long-term goals.
Furthermore, it is best if you choose a different bank to keep your savings – or just transfer the money to your retirement account. Not only will it be harder to take the money out, but it will also take more time. You might change your mind about the intended purchases then, and your savings will stay untouched.
Apps can help you
Budgeting apps require you to be responsible. They will track your spending habits, and evaluate how much you are saving. Therefore, you cannot hide anything from them, and there is a slim chance of going over your budget.
Every year, between Christmas and New Year, I take some time to reflect on the past year, think about what went well and what did not and set a course for things to come.
It is often said that if the “why” is big enough, the “how” will follow. I have had a really tough time keeping up with my commitments here at Mzansifinance.com over the last couple of months. I set myself quite aggressive goals this year and have fallen short significantly, mostly because of time management challenges.
Life has taken an exciting turn over the last couple of days. Yesterday, I played my first game for the Premier League team at my new cricket club and today I had my first day as a Financial Adviser at my new employer. Exciting times!
We as South Africans are fond of going out of our way to do things in the spirit of “saving” on expenses. On Tuesday evening, the petrol price went up by 93c per liter – apparently the single biggest price jump ever. True to form, the petrol stations were packed with eager customers waiting to fill up their vehicles. This got me thinking: when is the saving worth the effort?
