This post is part of our 21 Days to a Better Budget Series! To view all the posts in our series, please click here.
We all know that budgeting can sometimes be no fun, but we also know that it is essential to managing our money effectively. But what happens when we get in a budgeting funk or just get lazy?
I know it happens to me from time to time. I just don’t want to think about our budget. I’ll make every plan to sit down and make our budget for the month only to keep putting it on the back burner while secretly telling myself that “we’re okay – we have enough money”.
But, do we really? Y’all know what usually ends up happening on those months when I’m in a lazy, hazy, budgeting funk?
We fail with our money.
Yep, it never fails – we will completely and total bomb with our money that month because I wasn’t diligent enough to even set the budget, let alone attempt to stick to it. So, now what? How do you get yourself out of that haze?
No More Excuses
Oh the excuse train. I grew up hearing “that’s an excuse, not a reason” from my Daddy, so I’m pretty great at identifying when I’m just making excuses and not actually giving a true reason for why something is the way that it is. Until, I’m lazy, and then everything is an excuse and I’m whining and complaining.
That is why in order to get out of the budgeting funk, you have to stop making excuses for why you aren’t making or aren’t sticking to your budget. It does not matter what answer you come up with…
“I don’t make enough money to budget”
“I don’t even know where to begin.” (Head here if this is your current excuse.)
“I’m so broke that I don’t see how a budget will help me.”
If you aren’t making a budget, you are letting your money control you. You work hard for that money, now put it to work for you.
So, stop making excuses and just…
Get it Done
Seriously, make the gosh-darn budget. It does not have to be perfect or “right”, just do it. Budgeting takes practice and there will be months where you do fail with the budget and that is okay. Pick yourself back up and do it again.
If you aren’t sure where to begin, try one of these posts to help get you started:
The Beginner’s Guide to Budgeting
The Half Payment Method (a.k.a. “the stop living paycheck-to-paycheck method)
How to Use Google Apps for Budgeting
What if you fail?
It’s okay. It really is okay if your budget fails. There is no perfect budget and I have to remind myself of this all.the.time. Don’t let the fear of failing with your budget keep you in a budgeting funk. Pull yourself out by making a budget and sticking to it.
If it fails, ask yourself why and figure out what changes need to be made. Again, you’re not trying to be perfect, you’re just managing the money that you work hard for.
What is your tip for helping others get out of a budgeting haze?
For me, putting a “budgeting meeting” on my calendar really helps. It’s time I know I set aside for finances. Something I have to do in order to make sure it gets done.
Oh I love that Natalie! Lord knows I need all the reminding I can get! 🙂
So, September was the first month that we actually created a full budget, and it’s been a huge learning experience. The biggest lesson in learned was to make sure to take the time to really think through all forseeable expenses in the coming month. Things will always come up, but there were a number of things I failed to budget for because I hadn’t thought about/remembered them. I clearly need to sit down with the calendar when I draft the budget.
Using a calendar saves me! I would completely forget about things like Halloween….and birthdays without using a calendar to budget. And I’m super excited that y’all made a full budget – it’s an ever work-in-progress! 🙂
I think that in the past I have used almost every excuse you listed here! Haha! Taking that first step of actually sitting down and actually putting your budget on paper can be hard. But you are SO right. All you have to do is do it. It doesn’t matter if you fail as long as you try again.
Hahhaaa! Yes ma’am you’re so right! 🙂