What's involved in your budgeting method? (lemmy.world)

submitted 9 months ago by LesserAbe@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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I think budgeting and practical finances should be taught at multiple stages throughout a student's life. I thought I knew the general idea but didn't appreciate how much neglecting it would set me back.

What is your process for budgeting? As a starting point this article lists a few methods.

I use zero based budgeting where every dollar is assigned a purpose. I don't end up sticking exactly to the plan, but I do keep a spreadsheet which lists my current balances and all expected expenses, so I can see my future balance and avoid going in the red. A couple times a month I cross off expenses which have been paid and update the balance. This is especially helpful to me because a big portion of my income is irregular month to month.

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[-] Coskii@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 9 months ago

At the start of 2023 there wasn't one for me. I was in a rut and generally felt that if I didn't spend the money on myself, my SO would. About 6 months later I had one entire paycheck vanish midway through the week from excessive takeout purchases (150+ daily) and quickly set a budget. We each get about 200 a week for 'allowance' to do with as we please, about another 200 for food for both of us, and the rest was going into aavings/toward bills, but then in November I realized just how little the principle on the credit card we haven't used in two years was being paid with auto-pay and diverted the savings money towards that.

Currently, I've knocked down the CC by a third, plan to get it under control by march of work keeps up, then going back into savings and continuing with the basic plan.

this post was submitted on 03 Jan 2024

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