Article

6 Ways a Budget Can Help You Gain Control

Budget Tools

Does the “Case of the Missing Money” sound like a popular mystery in your household? So often small purchases add up into bigger chunks of money that seem to disappear without an explanation.

There is a way to gain more control of your personal finances.  With these 6 simple action points you can get a handle on your income and expenses, so that you can build your savings and prepare for unexpected emergencies or large purchases or even a recession.

March 6, 2023
Budget Tools
Important Disclosure: Content on our website and in our newsletters is for informational purposes only. The information provided may (or may not) directly apply to your situation. We recommend that readers work directly with a professional advisor when making decisions in the context of their specific situation.

Where does all your money go? The truth is usually not that mysterious. You can discover it with a little discipline on your part—along with the help of a budget. Many people spend their money in small increments without realizing how it all adds up. By helping you track your income and expenses, a budget can help you gain control of your personal finances.

Make It a Family Affair

Creating and maintaining a budget is often more successful if it is a family affair. All adult family members should be involved in the process. Since children affect and are affected by the budget, they should be included as well. When they see that the family’s income is not unlimited it can help them understand why everything they want is not always theirs for the asking.

Each family requires a personalized budget tailored to its own particular needs. Here are some of the basic steps to follow:

1. Track Income and Spending

To start, tally all your sources of income and spending for a few weeks or months. The easy way to do this is to get a receipt for all expenditures over $1.00. You can also refer to credit card statements, receipts, and check stubs.

2. Categorize Expenses

Set up different categories for your expenditures. The two basic types of expenses are: 1) fixed—those over which you have no control, such as mortgage or rent, insurance, and utilities; and 2) discretionary—those over which you do have control, such as clothes, movies, sports events, and dining out.

3. Set Priorities

When you begin to see how much money is coming in and how much is going out, it is time to set priorities. Is your objective to buy a house or a new car? Or, to save for your child’s college education or your retirement? Perhaps your top priority is to get out of debt.

4. Prepare the Budget

Now that you have a handle on your current income and expenses and have established some priorities, you are ready to prepare a budget. Remember to keep it simple. The less complicated, the easier it will be to maintain. For instance, to estimate expenses such as tax bills or insurance premiums, simply calculate the annual expense and divide by 12. The budget process should give you a better sense of where you need to cut expenses. It may take several passes before you whittle them down to bring them in line with your income and your financial objectives.

5. Stick to It

Get in the habit of reviewing your budget at least monthly. A weekly review is even better. A budget must be consistently maintained in order to work.

6. Conduct an Annual Review

Also, review your budget at the end of each year. By totaling what you spent and comparing it to what you had budgeted, you will see areas to work on for the coming year.

Additional Reminders

Once you have prepared a budget, there are still some important things to remember. First, don’t forget to set aside emergency savings in case of an unforeseen problem, such as a job loss, or an unexpected major expense. The general rule of thumb is that an emergency savings fund should cover three to six months’ worth of living expenses. To work best, savings should be set aside on a regular weekly or monthly basis. And second, keep a close watch on your credit card spending. Don’t let your credit cards run away with you. Due to the ease of using credit cards, many people end up buying things they don’t really need and that may end up costing them even more in finance charges if they don’t pay the bill on time.

Many families are always wondering where their money went. By making a budget part of your family’s financial routine, you could be well on your way to solving the all too familiar “Case of the Missing Money.”

Other content you may like

  • Advanced Philanthropy: Private Foundations

    Advanced Philanthropy: Private Foundations

    October 13, 2021
    For many affluent individuals, occasional gifts to a favorite charity may satisfy their charitable inclinations, often with the added incentive of a substantial tax deduction, along with various estate planning benefits. There is also a far more serious side to philanthropy that is ideal for managing a large, continuous charitable giving program. How much do you know about private foundations?
    Read this Article
  • After a Federal Reserve Pause

    After a Federal Reserve Pause

    June 2, 2023
    With a focus on how the Market responds to a Federal Reserve pause, this month we examine the effect on Stocks and Bonds. Also included is a deeper look at Money Market assets and their recent historic peaking, along with U.S. debt ceiling concerns and an overview of what’s driving the market these days.
    Read this Article
  • JUNE Monthly Market Matters

    Tech Titans and Real Estate Resilience

    July 7, 2023
    Strong Valley team members Chris and Jason discuss the performance of domestic and international markets, bonds, commodities, and real estate. They highlight the significant influence of big tech stocks and the impact of a few key players on overall market trends. They also explore the unexpected stability in real estate prices despite rising mortgage rates. They conclude with a discussion on the challenges in the commercial real estate sector due to high vacancy rates, largely driven by the enduring work-from-home trend.
    Read this Article
  • Time to Shop Your Cash plus GDP Surprises

    Time to Shop Your Cash plus GDP Surprises

    July 31, 2023
    In this review of July, Strong Valley team members Jason and Kyle talk about how important it is to shop your cash now that the rates make it worthwhile. They also discuss several surprises in the GDP and Housing Market, along with forecasts for rate hikes and the long predicted recession.
    Read this Article
  • The link you have selected is located on another server. The linked site contains information that has been created, published, maintained, or otherwise posted by institutions or organizations independent of this organization. We do not endorse, approve, certify, or control any linked websites, their sponsors, or any of their policies, activities, products, or services. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information contained therein. Visitors to any linked websites should not use or rely on the information contained therein until they have consulted with an independent financial professional. Please click “Continue to Link” to leave this website and proceed to the selected site.
    phone-handset