Steps to Budgeting Control
Most people admit to being out of control when it comes to spending and managing their money. They simply do not where the money went at the end of the month. Oftentimes, the money becomes in control of the person instead of the other way around. When this happens, a person continues to spend even when there is no cash to spend, primarily through credit cards. This is why so many people are debt-ridden and struggling financially.
If you are starting to feel like the only reason you are working is to pay the bills and yet your financial obligations never seem to end or at least lessen or you seem to be living from paycheck to paycheck despite a job that gives a decent pay, then you need some help in budgeting control. You need to know where all the money is going and why there is never enough to save.
In budgeting control, the first step is to know how much you need to control - this refers to your income. You know this figure by heart and yet at the end of the month, you have no idea where all of it went. This is where the next step comes in - know you expenses. List them down item by item starting with the necessities such as utility bills, rent, gas money, and etcetera.
Then, in a separate category, you should list down your other payables such as credit card payments, auto payments, insurance and etcetera. In another category, write down all your other expenses, no matter how small. A great way to do this is to collect receipts of all your transactions or spending within a month whether it is a haircut, a movie, a new shirt or your daily Starbucks coffee. Add up all your expenses per category and you will see exactly which spending area takes up most of your earnings every month.
Now, you are ready to proceed with the most crucial part of budgeting control - making adjustments. As you will find, the area that will require the most changes is the non-essential spending. This is where you need to apply the word ‘control'. In other words, limit your spending over things that are not necessary. Notice that the word used is ‘limit' and not ‘eliminate entirely'. This is because total restriction is not an effective strategy in budgeting control. It will only make you feel as if you are being punished and this will likely reduce your motivation to work on improving your finances.
Instead, adopt a balanced approach in budgeting control wherein the necessities remain top priority but you still allow yourself a few indulgences from time to time. Willingness is very important in budgeting control and this will only come if you really understand why you need to control your budget. You would have your own reasons, just focus on them to succeed in keeping your finances well under your control.
