Is Your Budget a Bummer? How To Make A Budget Without Feeling Depressed
A LOT of us don’t like the word “budget”. It’s easy to see why. After all, you’re making a plan to cut expenses and spend less money, right?
Let’s start with the most important tip I can give about creating a budget: Don’t let your Budget be a Bummer!
Today, we’re talking about setting your WISH LISTS!
My brother once asked if creating a budget was supposed to make you depressed. That’s a pretty normal reaction if you’ve been avoiding your finances for too long, or living beyond your means. (I’ve been there!)
Are you bummed about your budget as well? No worries! The key is to NOT being depressed about setting a budget is this…
Note how you feel about it. Then take responsibility then RELEASE these feelings.
There is no shame or blame in the finance and budget game, just awareness. Always remember this…
Numbers are simply numbers. They’re feedback, not judgment.
You might tend to attach feelings and judgments to the numbers. If you do, you’re not alone! But here’s the good news about those feelings that pop up when you look at your bank account…
You feel however you feel about something. But you ALSO have power to release or change those feelings.
Here’s the thing. You can’t get to where you want to be until you know where you are NOW. Once you know where you stand right now, you can figure out HOW you got there. Then you can either learn from your mistakes or keep doing what IS working.
This is why I had you start with taking control of your budget FIRST. Don’t worry-that’s the deepest we will get! Because once you know your budget and cash flow, from here on out it’s all fun and games! So once you’ve set your budget, here’s what to do next…
Simply list out all the things you want to buy in this year and put a price next to it.
It doesn’t matter how small or how big! My list ranges from $20 to $2500 and everything in-between. If you are a two person household this might be a really fun exercise to do with your partner, or to do separately and compare notes after to see how aligned you are or what maybe needs to be worked out as a team.
Once you have your list, add up all the totals and compare the total of what you want to spend vs. how much money you have in your budget for the year. Easy peasy!
So this is how you use your budget as a jumping-off point to where you want to go–and NOT a means of keeping you stuck in “Bummersville.” This is how you make a budget without feeling depressed!
Until Next Time,
Love, Light, and MONEY, Honey…
Kaylee