Can You Budget?

October 2, 2016 2:07pm CST
Where did you learn...were You tought by parents or did you read books.I struggle with budgeting.
6 people like this
8 responses
Jo Ann
@akalinus (43184)
• United States
2 Oct 16
You know what expenses you must pay. Rent for instance so you will not be out on the street. Utilities are important unless you like living wild. So concentrate on the things you have to pay and what is left over is for everything else.
1 person likes this
Yuki
@yukimori (10145)
• United States
2 Oct 16
I find that giving every dollar a job rather than just saying what's left is for "everything else" is much better for us. We have a specific amount for groceries, sinking funds for occasional expenses like vehicle maintenance and kid activities, certain amounts going to savings every month... it makes it a lot easier to not forget something important, and we're rarely blindsided by sudden large expenses because we have those funds.
2 people like this
Jo Ann
@akalinus (43184)
• United States
2 Oct 16
@yukimori Well yes, I was generalizing. You have to pay essentials first and then decide on the rest.
1 person likes this
Rebecca Huston
@Telynor (1763)
• United States
3 Oct 16
I am rather strict with my budgeting. The necessities come first -- my share of the household bills, and I try to put a little bit aside into my savings. Thank goodness tomorrow is money day.
1 person likes this
Yuki
@yukimori (10145)
• United States
2 Oct 16
My parents didn't teach me much of anything about how to manage money. I ended up mostly teaching myself with the help of various websites, including a board called We Are Debt Free over on BabyCenter.com. They got me started, and now I use a program called You Need a Budget to track everything for me. It's a subscription service but well worth the fee because it automatically imports transactions so I don't have to bother with entering things.
1 person likes this
Marlina
@marlina (154131)
• Canada
2 Oct 16
I learned the basics from my Mom and the balance I learn with living life.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
2 Oct 16
I learned by myself, especially when first married.
1 person likes this
Christina
@chrisandmark (606)
• United Kingdom
2 Oct 16
I'm completely rubbish at budgeting, I leave all that to my partner
1 person likes this
Paras Pandey
@parpande (1515)
• Bangalore, India
2 Oct 16
@MediciMoor well I learnt from my parents . Rest time will teach you.
1 person likes this
Jim stewart
@saulgoodman (2643)
• Dundee, Scotland
4 Oct 16
Oh god it took me until I was like 40 years old to learn to budget properly. My bank statements were all the reading I needed. Now 16 years on I have learned to live within my means. I don't have much in the bank but my wife and I are debt free. I was an impulse buyer. When I sorted that flaw in my character out I began to see where I had been going wrong. I pay my bills first. Put food on the table. Keep a roof over our heads. Any money left we enjoy. Just wish I had got my priorities right when I was younger