Reviewing your spending is NOT budgeting 

The most common pitfall for people who struggle to budget—is that they review their spending without changing their mindset or behaviors. They don't make different decisions with their spending throughout the month and get confused about why they overspent. 

Although apps like Mint provide (soon to be provided) value by keeping all your financial information in one place, they inadvertently became a roadblock to effective budgeting. Simply seeing all your transactions at a glance doesn’t necessarily inspire you to modify your spending habits.

Yes, it might sound counterintuitive, but hear me out. Let's break budgeting down so you can START budgeting correctly today. 

At the end of the month, sit down, cozy up with a cup of coffee ☕️, and draft a plan for the month ahead. But that’s not all. You also look forward to the next six months, ensuring you're setting aside funds for those bigger ticket items on the horizon.

Then there's the weekly ritual. You check in on your spending, key in the numbers, and gauge how you're measuring up to your budget categories.

Oops, did you treat yourself to a few extra meals 🍽 out? No stress. Either recalibrate your dining-out budget or opt for a home-cooked week ahead. The crucial part? You take immediate action.

With your budget realigned and your spending within the limits of your categories, you’re set to do it all over again the following week.

Let's say you’ve earmarked $300 for clothing/accessories. That's your budget cap. If you need to tweak it, you shuffle funds from another category. It's all about give and take.

Engage in a continuous dialogue with your budget. It's not just numbers on a sheet; it's a living, breathing relationship.

Craving a little structure to guide your budgeting journey? Nab our free budget templates with video walkthroughs to keep your finances at your fingertips.