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Home > Financial Tools > Financial How-To > Personal Finances > Budgeting Basics

Budgeting Basics

Best Practices for every budget: Find a way to budget that works for you. Some people love their apps, and others are happy with a pencil and paper.Budgets are like the New Year’s resolutions of personal finance.

We all know we should have one and we all know it’s a fairly simple thing to follow—at least in theory. Like resolutions, we often map out personal budgets with the best of intentions, only to abandon them a couple of weeks later.

It’s easy to blame our budget failures on the numbers we use, or the categories we create, or even the specific app or budgeting system we choose—but more often than not, the underlying cause of a hard-to-stick-to budget is our relationship with it. Just like resolutions, if we design budgets that are too restrictive or too vague, there’s no motivation to follow them.

Whether you’re planning your first budget or re-evaluating your current budget, the ground rules listed below will set you up for success by changing the way you look at budgeting. It doesn’t matter if you manage your budget on your smartphone or if you prefer good ol’ pen and paper—these budgeting basics can be applied to every budgeting system.

Budgeting Basic #1: Budgeting is about confidence, not guilt

A reason lots of people avoid budgeting is because they think it means giving up everything they love and converting to a super-frugal lifestyle. Or, they might be scared they’ll discover that they’ve been spending lots of money on the “wrong” things.


Budgeting is not meant to shame you into being financially responsible. At the end of the day, budgeting is simply about awareness. If you fully understand where your money is going each month, you can design a budget that allows you to truly enjoy your money. How fun is a shopping spree if it’s what’s keeping you in credit card debt for another month? How much can you enjoy your new apartment if the rent payment is stressing you out? Budgets are helpful when it comes to managing your bills and saving up for future expenses, but they’re also the key to spending your money confidently.

Budgeting Basic #2: Stop comparing yourself to others

An effective budget is tailored to your specific combination of wants and needs, so forcing yourself to live within a sample budget you found online or in a personal finance book is not a long-term solution. Budgeting categories can vary wildly depending on where you live, where you work, how you get from point A to point B, what you do for fun and what your personal goals are. Finding a budget that works for you will take trial and error, and the end result will look different from every other budget out there. Get comfortable with the idea that everyone has different priorities, and that no two budgets look alike.
Budgeting Basics
Get started on your budget today!

Budgeting Basic #3: Be real about your income

A rookie mistake when it comes to budgeting is using your salary (divided by 12 months) or your hourly wage (multiplied by hours worked) as your monthly income. Instead, take a couple of minutes to calculate your monthly take-home pay—this is your income after estimated taxes and other deductions (like health care, social security and retirement savings contributions) have been taken into account. Your deductions should be listed on your paycheck, and there are plenty of income tax estimate services online that you can use for free.

Budgeting Basic #4: Savings is an expense, too

If budgeting categories were a high school gym class, savings would be picked last. In many budgets, the savings category ends up getting whatever is left over after the “more urgent” expenses have been paid (and—in most cases—the not-so-urgent ones too!). The only way to take your savings seriously is to give it the same priority as your living expenses. If you contribute a set amount to your savings at the beginning of the month, your savings will grow so much faster and you won’t be able to “accidentally” spend that money on something else.

Budgeting Basic #5: Look to your budget instead of your balance

For many people, budgeting simply means checking your account balance before making a purchase—and although it’s good to stay on top of your account totals, looking at your balance is an unreliable way of determining what you can and can’t afford. Your account balance can’t communicate, for instance, how much money needs to be left untouched in order for you to pay your taxes this year or to renew your gym membership next month or to repair your car next week. Get into the habit of referencing your budget instead of your account balance before spending your money.

Budgeting Basic #6: Prepare for emergencies

Emergency expenses have a knack for breaking even the best budgets because they can very easily turn into a huge source of debt. If you don’t have the cash on hand to take care of them immediately, you’ll have to put them on a card or take out a loan, which will have you paying interest on top of the cost of the expenses.


Emergency funds are an important part of any budget and should be a separate category from general savings goals. In order to be effective, your emergency fund can only be accessed for real emergencies—like sudden unemployment, an unexpected medical emergency, or a critical home or vehicle repair. Instead of looking at your emergency fund like yet another savings category, look at it as a way to strengthen your entire budget. Not only will it cover tough situations, but it will also save you stress and give you peace of mind.

Budgeting BASICS: When setting up a budget, it’s easy to list all your major expense categories, like your rent or your student loan payment. The tricky part is keeping track of all those little extra expenses—the ones that most people forget to include in their budget in the first place. 5 SNEAKY EXPENSES TO KEEP ON YOUR RADAR - MAIL-BASED SUBSCRIPTIONS: Subscriptions that get delivered to your door and that tend to renew annually: • Magazines • Personal shopping services • Gift-of-the-month clubs  WHY IT’S SNEAKY: It’s a new trend that many people aren’t used to including in their budget. With everything from designer shoes to pet toys available for monthly delivery, it can be difficult to categorize subscription expenses. HOW TO BUDGET FOR IT HOW TO BUDGET FOR IT HOW TO BUDGET FOR IT HOW TO BUDGET FOR IT HOW TO BUDGET FOR IT If your subscription renews annually, figure out when the renewal date is. Then divide the cost of the annual subscription by the number of months until the renewal date—that’s how much money you’ll need to put away each month to keep that subscription going. DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: Digital media (movies, music and ebooks) that you access online and that tend to renew monthly: • Media services like Netflix and Spotify • Ebook access like Kindle Unlimited • Tutorial sites like Lynda.com WHY IT’S SNEAKY: Digital subscriptions are convenient and in many cases more affordable than purchasing individual albums, movies and books. That said, the total cost can add up pretty quickly if you’re subscribed to several services at once. HOW TO BUDGET FOR IT HOW TO BUDGET FOR IT HOW TO BUDGET FOR IT HOW TO BUDGET FOR IT If your subscription renews annually, figure out when the renewal date is. Then divide the cost of the annual subscription by the number of months until the renewal date—that’s how much money you’ll need to put away each month to keep that subscription going. Online subscriptions are often pretty flexible—you can usually cancel and restart them at any time. Take advantage of this flexibility by grouping your digital subscriptions together within your budget. If you need to free up an extra $30, it might be easier to hit pause on a couple of entertainment-related subscriptions than to squeeze that money out of another category. SAVINGS TIP Public libraries have been upping their game—many offer free access to ebooks, digital magazines and professional resources. GIFTS: Special-occasion purchases for family and friends: • Presents and gift certificates • Greeting cards and postage • Little extras like gift wrap and balloons WHY IT’S SNEAKY:Birthdays and holidays are simple enough to budget for, but other occasions can take a big chunk out of your gift-giving budget— especially when you start getting invited to weddings and baby showers. HOW TO BUDGET FOR IT HOW TO BUDGET FOR IT If your subscription renews annually, figure out when the renewal date is. Then divide the cost of the annual subscription by the number of months until the renewal date—that’s how much money you’ll need to put away each month to keep that subscription going. Online subscriptions are often pretty flexible—you can usually cancel and restart them at any time. Take advantage of this flexibility by grouping your digital subscriptions together within your budget. If you need to free up an extra $30, it might be easier to hit pause on a couple of entertainment-related subscriptions than to squeeze that money out of another category. It’s probably best to give these expenses a category of their own. Regular purchases (think eye care or vitamins) should give you an idea of how much money you need to set aside each month, but consider contributing a little extra to cover those less-frequent purchases (like cold medication). Come up with a set amount per type of gift (e.g., $20 for a friend’s birthday, $100 for a family member’s Christmas present) and stick to it. It might seem limiting at first, but it makes it easier to anticipate how much money you need to budget for gifts in any given month. Some months tend to be more gift-heavy than others—wedding season and winter holidays, anyone? Setting aside an annual amount can be a good strategy.SAVINGS TIP Use your DIY skills to reduce gift expenses—shop in advance, compare prices, and take advantage of online deals and free shipping offers. NON-PRESCRIPTION HEALTH STUFF  The kinds of things you pick up at the drugstore: • Vitamins and supplements • Cough and cold medication • Eye drops and allergy relief  WHY IT’S SNEAKY: Non-prescription health stuff is tricky to categorize since it’s not exactly health care, not exactly toiletries and not exactly a frivolous expense. HOW TO BUDGET FOR IT HOW TO BUDGET FOR IT HOW TO BUDGET FOR IT If your subscription renews annually, figure out when the renewal date is. Then divide the cost of the annual subscription by the number of months until the renewal date—that’s how much money you’ll need to put away each month to keep that subscription going. Online subscriptions are often pretty flexible—you can usually cancel and restart them at any time. Take advantage of this flexibility by grouping your digital subscriptions together within your budget. If you need to free up an extra $30, it might be easier to hit pause on a couple of entertainment-related subscriptions than to squeeze that money out of another category. It’s probably best to give these expenses a category of their own. Regular purchases (think eye care or vitamins) should give you an idea of how much money you need to set aside each month, but consider contributing a little extra to cover those less-frequent purchases (like cold medication). SAVINGS TIP Combine in-store offers with manufacturer coupons (found in the weekly flyer or online). CROWDFUNDING Campaigns, projects and products you contribute to online: • Kickstarter campaigns • Indiegogo projects WHY IT’S SNEAKY Crowdfunding is a very new type of expense, and depending on the type of project you’re contributing to, it can feel more like a charitable action than a pre-order for a new product.HOW TO BUDGET FOR IT If your subscription renews annually, figure out when the renewal date is. Then divide the cost of the annual subscription by the number of months until the renewal date—that’s how much money you’ll need to put away each month to keep that subscription going. Online subscriptions are often pretty flexible—you can usually cancel and restart them at any time. Take advantage of this flexibility by grouping your digital subscriptions together within your budget. If you need to free up an extra $30, it might be easier to hit pause on a couple of entertainment-related subscriptions than to squeeze that money out of another category. It’s probably best to give these expenses a category of their own. Regular purchases (think eye care or vitamins) should give you an idea of how much money you need to set aside each month, but consider contributing a little extra to cover those less-frequent purchases (like cold medication). Come up with a set amount per type of gift (e.g., $20 for a friend’s birthday, $100 for a family member’s Christmas present) and stick to it. It might seem limiting at first, but it makes it easier to anticipate how much money you need to budget for gifts in any given month. Some months tend to be more gift-heavy than others—wedding season and winter holidays, anyone? Setting aside an annual amount can be a good strategy. At the end of the day, your crowdfunding dollars are discretionary income. If it’s an occasional expense, take it out of your fun money. If you enjoy backing projects regularly, treat crowdfunding like you would a hobby and give it its own category within your budget.BROUGHT TO YOU BY VyStar Credit Union

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