Budget. (Is that a difficult word?)
Dave Ramsey has focused for years on providing options for those who want to have peace with what some call the “money monster”.
Our family has a favorite classic movie called “My Man Godfrey”. We often reference one part when we talk about money…. if you’re in a hurry then skip to minute 1:03 (And if you can’t see the video player – try this link directly to YouTube.)
We are joking, of course, when we reference money as the “Frankenstein Monster”. Well… sort of.
Anyway.
Budgeting is one part of that peace with money. But not all of us see the idea of budgeting as a positive idea.
How about you? Are you comfortable with working within the boundaries of a budget? Whether it’s an old-fashioned pen on paper, a spreadsheet, or an app, have you found a way to:
- Write down your total income.
- List your expenses.
- Subtract your expenses from your income.
- Track your spending to see if your spending is aligning to your plan.
These four steps are expanded here. And there’s an app for that budgeting idea also. I’m sure there are many ways to make and follow a budget… just try searching for “How to make a budget.” and you’ll be reading for quite a while.
I think the last part of this quote by Dave Ramsey is poignant:
A budget is telling your money where to go… instead of wondering where it went.
If you wonder where your money went at the end of the month – or when you fill out your income tax forms – perhaps it’s time to discover – or re-discover – what working with a budget might feel like. Maybe it won’t be as bad as you might think?
How do you feel about using a budget?
