Taking into account income and expenses, making a budget based on these data is the alpha and omega in the field of personal finance. These are basic actions, without which it will be difficult to talk about saving, increasing savings, and so on. And it's quite simple, you just need a little discipline and knowledge of school mathematics.
However, not many people can keep a budget for a long time, even if they understand the importance of this activity. Often the whole process is hindered by non-obvious obstacles. It is better to try to avoid them.
I want to think of myself as a person who treats finances rationally. "I spend my salary only on what I need. Okay, not only that, sometimes I squander money. But it's not that bad, is it? And in general, not so much goes to waste. You can't make a fortune if you save this amount," the internal logic works something like this. If you take up the budget properly, you will not be able to deceive yourself. And that's why it's scary to even start: suddenly something terrible will be revealed?
The truth is that almost anyone will have expenses that can be considered superfluous. And it doesn't make anyone worse. We are people, we are alive, sometimes we make the wrong choice. Be more lenient with yourself.
To be less afraid, remind yourself more often that only you decide which spending is right and wrong for you. No one gives them grades. The budget is not needed to deprive yourself of all the pleasures and limit everything. It helps to keep track of what is happening with finances in general. Therefore, try to take the position of a kind supportive observer towards yourself.
When you start keeping a budget, sometimes the excellent student syndrome works: you want the records to look perfect so that you can save money and save more. Therefore, you deny yourself the usual coffee and chocolate, instead of steak you buy cheap minced meat, and in general you worry about every expense.
Of course, this does not make life more fun and richer, because such an approach throws out a lot of things that bring pleasure. You can hold out for some time, but then an inevitable breakdown awaits with the conclusion that these budgets are complete nonsense.
Therefore, it is necessary to remember: the budget is for you, not you for him. This is just a tool that allows you to structure finances, identify problem points, and generally understand a little more what is happening with your money. It is important, at least in the first months, while you are analyzing the data, to live as before. And in the future it is worth planning your expenses so that they are not minimal, but comfortable.
Some start recording expenses and incomes, make a budget and expect that they will immediately begin to control their money better and save more. And when this does not happen, they are disappointed and leave everything.
However, it is perfectly normal if you are engaged in budget processes, but nothing has changed much in life, except that you now have to spend time fixing expenses. First you need to get enough data that you can already work with.
For example, the structure of expenses will vary depending on the season. Winter boots are more expensive than sandals. In December, you have to pay more for communal apartment than in May. In one month you need to pay property taxes, in another month you need to extend your car insurance. So short-term calculations are not indicative. This means that you will start planning your spending more accurately after some time. Just give it to yourself.
The question "how?" is important. But "why?" is even more important. If a person does not understand how maintaining a budget will help him, he will quickly stop with it.
And here you need to figure out what will change in your life if you start being more thoughtful about finances. For example, think about the financial goals that you want to achieve.
People are different, and different budget management systems are suitable for them. Someone will be interested in prescribing formulas in Excel tables. Someone will like to fill out a notebook, glue funny stickers into it and draw diagrams with pens of various colors. Someone prefers to automate the process and downloads a special application. There are no wrong ways, there are inconvenient ones.
So if you've started planning a budget, but you're sick of the process, it might be worth trying another recording option.
