Budgeting has been my jam for over a decade. As a personal finance writer and editor — and a naturally frugal person — I’ve spent hundreds of hours exploring budgeting strategies, trying out budgeting apps and honing my spending. I find the challenge exhilarating. Even I have felt frustrated by the sheer volume of budgeting advice available.If you don’t geek out over money management like I do, budgeting can feel like a daunting and downright painful process, but it doesn’t have to be that way. I’ve distilled my 10+ years of experience into the top tips you need to know to master your better budget — and save yourself a ton of stress.Read more: Do You Hate Your Budget? Try This InsteadWhether you’re creating a budget for the first time or have struggled to stick to your budget in the past, these tips can help you manage your money like a pro.✅Budgeting is about your CANs, not your CAN’TsBudgeting gets a bad rap. For the longest time, I saw my budget as the buzzkill that prevented me from doing anything enjoyable with my money. Budgeting doesn’t have to be about limits and restrictions. Done right, it can help you afford the things you love most.I love treating myself to takeout every week. I know making food at home is cheaper, but it’s a splurge I look forward to. My budget helps me free up funds for this habit by showing me where I can cut costs on things I care less about, like clothing and streaming services.📋There’s no ‘right’ strategyDifferent experts promote different budgeting approaches. In the end, the one that’s best for you is the one that makes the most sense for your situation — and the one you’re most likely to stick with.Popular budgeting strategies to consider:50/30/20 method: With this approach, you allocate 50% of your income to needs (like housing and groceries), 30% to wants (like eating out and entertainment) and 20% to savings and/or debt payment.Zero-based budgeting: This strategy forces you to assign every dollar you make to a specific category. If you have anything left over, you can use it for whatever you want.Envelope method: With this method, you set a spending limit for each category in your budget. Once you’ve hit your limit, you can’t spend any more in that category.Play around with several strategies to see which one works best for you. I initially thought zero-based budgeting would help me be more disciplined, but I quickly realized its painstaking, dollar-by-dollar approach made me want to never look at my budget again. So I’ve landed on the envelope method, which helps me control my spending without overwhelming me.🎯Be realisticA budget should challenge you to be smarter with your spending, but it shouldn’t feel like torture. Getting too aggressive, especially at the start, only sets you up for failure. Be honest with yourself about how achievable the goals are that you set for yourself.For example, If you’re struggling to save, a large goal like saving $500 each month might be too big a reach. Ins
Mer. Gen 15th, 2025
