Savvy Budgeting Saves You Money

I've lived by the structure of a budget since......forever! I honestly don't know how I would get along without one. A budget is just that - structure, financial structure. Financial structure is the backbone of your everyday living.



I see it on television all the time, financial advisors helping individuals find more money in their bank accounts by suggesting they cut out the coffees on the way to work, and "Ouila !", they magically have an extra $300 a month! I think to myself, "Wow!", they have so much extra money that they can spend an extra $300 a month on coffees and not even realize it? If they are so smart to earn that kind of income, then how come they're not intelligent enough to have a budget?



You see, budgeting is not just for people who don't have a lot of money. It's just as equally necessary for the person with the six-figure income. Budgeting is simply the act of keeping track of your money. We keep track of our children, our families, the maintenance on our cars, but for some reason, when it comes to dollars and cents, we have no sense. A lot of folks would just rather look the other way. Either it's too complicated, or some of us just can't face our own financial realities.



A lot of you already live by the structure of a budget - pat yourselves on the back! But for those of you that don't, it's never too late. A lot of people have asked me, how do you afford to do that? How are you able to live in that house? You have four teenagers who are always wearing nice clothes, how can you afford it? The answer is always the same - we live by the structure of a budget and always make sound financial decisions for ourselves. Even during this past year when it seemed like everyone around us was suffering some type of financial setback, we still remained, by the grace of God and our budget, comfortable. Cautious, but comfortable.



Mind you, I'm no financial expert, although I do have many years of banking experience in my back pocket, but not a professional qualified to hand out any type of financial advice! I've had enough people ask me what I'm doing to keep track of our finances, that I figure we must be doing something right! So, I would like to sit down on Tuesdays, friend to friend, with you, with our cups of coffee (that we made at home) and share with you what I do in my household that has helped my family get where we are today.



Maybe there will be something that could help you out. Maybe if only the encouragement needed to get a budget started. It is a discipline to which you must be ready to commit. You have to want it! You have to want to get this part of your life under control. I'll happily be your cheerleader! If only one person comes away with something useful, it will make my day. Come back next Tuesday and we'll chat about budgeting.



Thanks for stopping by!