To be honest, Stick to your budget There’s something like trying to keep your toddler clean on spaghetti nights. you tryBut life is troublesome.
Many people believe that budgeting is to set up once and leave alone. In fact, budgeting is similar to a sourdough starter. You have to check in, stir things up a bit and feed them regularly, or they fall apart quickly.
Instead of waiting for the end of the month to wonder where all the money went, I highly recommend doing a 5 minute budget check-in every week. that’s it. 5 minutes. It may completely change the way you handle money…and it’s so easy!
If you’ve ever been late, unorganized, or overwhelmed to look at your bank account, then this is for you.
5 minute budget check-in:
Here are six questions I recommend asking at the end of each week Keep your budget on track And your sanity is unharmed (if you are married, it is best to review these with your spouse if possible):
1. What worked this week?
Let’s start with the good ones. Have you stuck with your grocery budget? actually skip Drive-thru? Instead of eating out at work, would you pack three lunches?
Even if it’s you Big goal It’s about paying off your debt or saving $1,000. count. For me, this might mean we had leftovers or we ate from what I had in the pantry. Or, instead of buying a new one, I came up with a way to use something already on hand. Or I’ve already found so much about what I need to buy!
Everything is right: Keep an eye on it, name it, and acknowledge your victory.
Incidentally, if you need help defining your budgeting goals, then Free Budget Goal Planning Worksheet Designed to make the process extremely simple!
2. What didn’t work?
This part is not for shame on yourself. That’s because learn.
Did you blow your takeout budget on Wednesday because you forgot to prepare your meal? Have you “mistaked” stepped into the target?
Maybe you look back on this and realize you’re spending extra money on snacks every Friday. As you think about it, you’ll probably find that you’re always running errands with your kids after school on Fridays and everyone is hungry.
This recognition is important! Now you can plan your fun snacks top and budget for it in advance, or bring snacks from home. boom. The problem has been solved!
3. What do you want to change?
This is where magic happens. Maybe your diet budget will need even wiggle rooms. Life felt like crazy, so maybe it didn’t work this week.
Ask yourself: What can you change next week to feel more prepared or in control? The answer can be as simple as setting a phone reminder to record receipts. It can get deeper as you realize that your budget doesn’t match your real life and requires a full update. Or you are trying to buy happiness and need to fast from spending money.
Either way, there’s always something to adjust.
PSST! If you need a way to track all your expenses, be sure to check it out Free Budget Tracker! Fixed and variable costs – there’s a place to easily track everything!
4. What surprised me?
Did something cost more than you expected? Have you ever had a refund you forgotten? Was your electricity bill low due to the cool weather?
Just this past week I got a notification that I had been charged $28 a month for something. I didn’t recognize the company. After all, one of our teens had signed up for something, thinking it was a one-off fee. We put in the teens and resolved it and canceled it. And I was so happy to catch it.
Surprise is a small gift of insight…even frustrating.
5. Did I go beyond my budget everywhere?
If your budget exceeds your budget, ask yourself. Was this a one-off or is it happening frequently?
If that’s a pattern (such as groceries being $50 a week), it could be the next time.
- I’ll adjust it budget
- Adjust your spending habits
- Or both!
Either way, don’t beat yourself. This is just useful information. Think about your budget like GPS. If you go in the wrong direction, you just need to recalculate. It doesn’t call you irresponsible.
6. Are there any “aha” moments?
During this check-in, you may discover something big about the way you think about money. Like the week, I realized I was saddened by the loss of something big in my life and just wanted to buy something to fill the hole and take away some of my sadness. This was a good reminder to remind myself to stop and give myself the space to acknowledge my sadness and the depth of the loss I was feeling.
Or maybe you’re realising how calm you are instead, or because you’re planning ahead and saving up your future bills.
These little light bulb moments are powerful. They help you to understand yourself and develop better habits that actually stick to you.
Weekly check-in = actual budget trust
This simple exercise involves “I don’t know what I’m doing” and “I got this. I have a plan. And I live in a way that follows my values and priorities!”
This weekend I’ll grab only the planner, sticky notes, or the notes app on my phone. Set a five-minute reminder and ask yourself these six questions. No flashy apps or perfect planning required. You need to be willing to check in, learn what happened, make small tweaks and try again next week.
Because every little step is important.
You might like it too:
- Question for Crystal: Which budget app is best?
- Seven simple rhythms that bring peace to our homes
- How to teach children about money management: A guide to age groups
- How can I budget when I’m that late?
- Ask Crystal: How do I get my spouse to take on my budget?
- Is it possible to eat healthy on a budget?
Try this 5 minute budget check-in and I’d love to hear what I discovered in the comments below!
Do you want to make this in the year when you finally stick to your budget? !
Tracking your budget doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated! Please use these Free budget spreadsheet To easily plan and track your spending every month!
Source: Money Saving Mom® – moneysavingmom.com
