How to Organize Your Budget & Still Have a Life

How to Organize Your Budget & Still Have a Life

In the current economic climate, it is more important than ever to watch you pennies. Prices for practically everything are going up exponentially – groceries, petrol, house prices etc. Getting back to basics and adjusting your expectations of what you think you need vs. what you actually need is a great place to start.

Create a Budget

None of us realize just how much we spend until we do a budget. I know to most of us (including me) they are the last thing you want to spend time doing, but it’s worth spending the time to see what is actually coming in and going out. You will be surprised at the results and it will give you a clear picture of where you can achieve ably cut down or out!

Always find some Spare Change for Charity

As badly off as you think you are there is always someone worse off than you –increasingly so. I believe what goes around comes around so even if it’s only a few dollars here and there, open you r heart and have a ‘giving’ mindset as it helps keep things in perspective too.

Always Pay Credit Cards on Time

Unless it’s an absolute necessity if you know you can’t afford to repay the full amount by the due date then show some restraint and only live within your means. Too many of us want everything and want it now. We need to get back to saving for what we need and learning what our needs vs. wants are to do this.

Retrain Yourself

Many of us have grown up increasingly expecting to be entertained – which is becoming more and more costly. We need to get back to the point where we become more self-reliant on our inner resources. Got to the park with a packed lunch instead of to the mall for an outing; go to a free community concert instead of the movies. Let’s not continue to become the rampant consumers big business wants us to. We have the choice.

Seconds Stores / Op shops

Let go of your pride if you have a problem with wearing pre-loved clothes. It’s actually fashionable to do, so remind yourself of this if you need to. I love Op shopping (as we call it here in Australia) and uncovering great finds for myself or the kids. I have saved an absolute fortune by doing this and knowing that I am helping decrease landfill and wasteful carbon emissions by not buying (often poorly made) items from possibly less than reputable companies –goodness know where.

Make your own Lunch

If you still buy your lunch everyday I can only ask “what planet are you on.” Don’t you know how much money you can save buy making your own even just half the time?! If you worry about what other people think because no one else does it then perhaps you need to ask yourself why you care what other people think and get a better perspective on yourself land your life in terms of what really matters.

Cut down on the Espressos

I know that the office coffee isn’t nearly as good as the ‘real thing’ you can get at the coffee shop down the street, but before a zillion and one café’s opened we used to make do with it and we didn’t die. So get real and only ‘treat’ yourself to the expensive coffee once a week. It’s a luxury most of us simply can’t afford any more. Many people kid themselves that it’s only small change but it can add up to $1,000 a year!

Ever heard of Savings?

In the past people used to save between 10% & 20% of their income for luxury items and a ‘rainy day’. Having a separate account, which you need to pretend is not there and not let yourself use for any frivolous expenses is the best way to do this. You would be surprised at how this adds up, especially when it is compounded.