My "Two-Cents"

Budgeting, I fear, is pretty much a lost art these days. During the holidays, it is especially important to have a budget. It really is not difficult. Budgeting doesn't mean that you can't have fun or spend money--it is simply an organizational tool for your finances. You decide where you want your money to go.


Keys to a good budget:

Be realistic.
Set goals that you can keep…Don’t set yourself up too tight or you’ll end up scrapping the whole thing. Allow yourself spending money, this way you are less likely to overextend yourself in those weak moments. (We all need to let loose every once in a while and buy that book we've been looking at or that daily grande, non-fat, extra hot, no whip mocha.) Give yourself an inch, that way you won’t end up taking a mile.

Be smart.
Set aside money for long-term saving for things in the more distant future--such as a car or a house--as well as savings for more short-term things such as birthdays, etc.

Holidays.
When things like Christmas are coming up, decide ahead of time how much you want to spend and divide that amount up among your recipients.

If you never take the time to sit down and find out how much extra money you have after you pay your expenses, you’ll never start saving--you will just end up spending it on food or the movies or something. Why not budget and then you can give yourself money for food and movies and still be saving along the way?


Here is an example from my very first budget when I was ten years old and making $2 a week…

10% for tithe

(leaving 90% to divide between savings and spending)

50% pocket money (to spend on whatever I like)
20% long term savings
20% short term savings


Carpe Diem! Seize the Day!
I know you can!