The Wisdom of the Budget:

Common wisdom states that if you want to be in control of your finances, you need to follow a strict budget. Hundreds of books and thousands of articles have been written about different types of budgeting systems that people can follow.

Often, people assume that if they want to follow a budget, they need to jump in headfirst, go- ing from no budget to tracking every purchase. This often leads to belly flopping.

Following a strict budget may be a great tool, but since it involves so much effort, it doesn't work for many people. When people don't know the best way to incorporate a new habit and try to force themselves to make a huge shift in lifestyle habits, it often doesn't work. Imagine trying to keep track of every detail of one aspect of your life: what you eat, exercise routines, phone calls, etc. It's hard to start from one day to the next.

But having a cheshbon for your money is im- portant. So don't jump into a budget overhaul. Instead, start with the no-budget system.

Pay Yourself First:

Instead of figuring out where your money went, set up a plan for where it should go.

The real goal of a budget is to come out with extra money at the end of the month. If you put money in savings, that month was a win.

The no-budget system advises paying yourself first. Our natural instinct is to pay other people first and only worry about our- selves later. We assume that after we pay our bills, we'll put whatever's left in savings. However, what usually ends up happening is that if you wait until the end, you're unlikely to have extra money to put away, and even if you do, it won't be the ideal amount.

Instead, turn your savings into a bill that needs to be paid. When you receive your pay- check, immediately separate a percentage and put it into savings.

But what if...

Many people initially balk at such a suggestion: What if I don't have enough money to pay my bills after putting money away? But this fear is unlikely to come true. The reali- ty is that the extra money in the bank gets spent. Putting away money in savings first just makes the savings a priority instead of the random extras that the money would go to otherwise.

But what if the end of the month comes along, and you see that you don't have enough to pay your credit card bill? That's what your emergency fund is for. In the worst-case scenario, if you don't have enough to cover the balance, simply dip into your emergency fund and replace it the next month when you once again put money in savings.

In 1943, the government learned the truth of this principle. Taxes used to be paid at the end of the year, but by the time the government's payday came around, no one had the money since it had all been spent. Now, the government gets paid first.

Your goal should be to make it automatic. Saving money should be as easy as possible

Do the same thing with your own finances. Pay your- self first, and you'll see, chances are very good that you'll still cover all your bills.

How Much?

This depends on different factors, but the general recommendation is that 20 percent of your income should go into savings each month. In the early stage of marriage, when expenses are often lower, this goal is more doable. When expenses grow higher, this amount may not work for you. Look at your expenses, figure out what you can reasonably hope to save, and pick a smaller number. The main thing is that it should happen. When you come up with a figure, plan to deposit that much in savings each month.

Make it Automatic:

In The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach, the author urges people to automate the amount that goes into savings. This way, there's no struggle, no wondering if you should use the money for something else. It's effortless. I think this is the best first step when it comes to budgeting. Once you have that, you're 80 percent of the way there. After that, you can keep an eye on your expenses to make sure that you're covering them. Most people find it too difficult and too time-consuming to keep track of every dollar, and this option gives you 80 percent of the benefits for 20 percent of the work.

Blog Post Title One

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Two

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Three

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Four

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.