Budgeting Works: Master Your Finances with These Powerful Tips and Tricks!

At the start of every new year, I have a personal tradition of picking out a fresh planning calendar. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive—even a simple one from Dollar Tree will do the job just fine. For me, the most important thing is that it includes all the days and months for the entire year. For 2022, I used a calendar that I decorated to make it uniquely mine. One of my favorite parts of budgeting is adding inspiring and encouraging words. I use old vinyl that I already have on hand, so I don’t spend any extra money. It’s a fun way to add a personal touch and keep myself motivated throughout the year.

Planning ahead is something I take seriously, and I always try to organize each month before it begins. When I create my budget, I prepare for the worst-case scenario to ensure I’m never caught off guard. My husband’s income and mine can fluctuate from month to month, so I base our budget on the lowest amount we’ve earned in the past. This approach ensures that even during months when our income is lower than usual, we can still cover our expenses. If your income is consistent, you can simply work with that steady amount, but for us, planning conservatively has proven to be very effective.

When I first started budgeting, I made it a point to track every single penny we spent over the course of a few months. Each day, I logged every purchase and payment to gain a clear understanding of where our money was going. This process was eye-opening and incredibly useful in helping me anticipate regular expenses and identify areas where we could cut back. However, I quickly learned that life doesn’t always go as planned. For example, one month we faced unexpected repairs: some pipes burst in the barn, and our tractor required maintenance. These unplanned expenses caught me off guard, but they also taught me an invaluable lesson about the importance of setting aside extra money for emergencies.

Now, I always include a category in our budget specifically for unexpected repairs and other surprises. This “just in case” fund has made a world of difference in how we handle financial challenges. By being prepared and planning carefully, I’ve found that we can navigate unforeseen circumstances with far less stress. Budgeting and planning ahead have not only given us more financial stability but also greater peace of mind. It’s a habit I’m committed to maintaining, year after year because it truly makes a difference in our lives when budgeting.

Of course, I use things like Fetch Rewards

I also like to use MyPoints to click on links and watch videos for points. You can redeem the points for gift cards! I have done this for years and at Christmas, I am able to cash my points in to give gift cards for gifts!

Of course, I love couponing on Saturdays at Dollar General, so when I budget I add an amount that I can coupon shop with.  I can stock up and still stay within my budget.

My other love is making money while I sleep! My friend sent me a link to sign up with Robinhood Stock Investment, so I did, and they gave me one stock. I have started buying one stock every pay period. I did a little research and found stocks that pay me dividends every quarter. I use that money to purchase even more, I am investing in my future!

Lastly, I have planted a ton of fruit trees on our property. Every Mother’s Day, Birthday & even Christmas, I have asked for fruit trees. We can save a ton of money not having to buy them. We also have free-ranging chickens; these don’t require much feed and lay eggs daily for us.

I have adjusted and added to my budget the closer we get to my husband retiring, I don’t want any surprises to pop up and us not be prepared.

Let me know what you are doing to make sure you budget and stay focused!

Originally posted 2022-01-05 22:43:02.