5 tips for sticking to your budget
hey bestie!
Let’s face it—sticking to a budget can feel impossible at times. But with the right mindset and tools, it’s absolutely doable! These are my 5 tips to help you stay on track and make budgeting feel less like a chore.
1. Set Realistic Goals
You’re setting yourself up for failure if you’re not realistic with your goals. Sure, I’d love to save $50,000 in a year, but is that doable on my current income? Probably not. Could I do it over five years? Absolutely, with dedication and planning.
Be honest about your income and expenses. Set goals that challenge you but are achievable within your current means.
How Budget Bestie Helps:
I use the app to create savings envelopes. For example, if I’m saving $50,000 for a down payment, I’ll set up an envelope labeled “Down Payment” with a $50,000 goal and a five-year due date. The app then calculates how much I need to set aside each time I budget to stay on track.
2. Track Your Expenses
Once you’ve set realistic goals, the next step is to track your expenses. You can’t stick to a budget if you don’t know where your money is going. In fact, budgeting is pointless without tracking—you’ve just got a pretty little master plan with no follow through.
Tracking every expense shows you exactly where your money is going and allows you to adjust your spending and budget as needed.
How Budget Bestie Helps:
I use the app to record every expense—and since it’s on my phone, it’s incredibly easy to do while I’m on the go!
3. Adjust When Needed
Life happens, and sometimes you’ll need to transfer money between envelopes (categories). That’s okay! Flexibility is essential when budgeting. Don’t give up just because you’re faced with an expense you didn’t plan for.
How Budget Bestie Helps:
With Budget Bestie, you can easily transfer money from one envelope to another. It’s also super simple to create new envelopes and rework your budget whenever needed.
4. Reward Yourself for Progress
Celebrate every win! You’ve got to be your biggest cheerleader in this journey. Reward yourself for your hard work and progress, even in small ways.
How Budget Bestie Helps:
The app makes it easy to track your progress and see how much you’ve saved, which can be a huge motivator to keep going.
5. Budget on Your Own Schedule
Not everyone gets paid monthly, and that’s okay! Budgeting on your own schedule is key to staying consistent. Whether you’re paid weekly, biweekly, or irregularly, your budget should align with when you get paid—not the calendar month. By working with your income cycle, you can avoid the stress of running out of money before your next paycheck.
How Budget Bestie Helps:
Budget Bestie is designed to work with your payday schedule. You can set up a budget whenever you get paid, ensuring your plan always matches your cash flow. No need to stick to monthly cycles unless that works for you!
Final Thoughts
Budgeting takes time, and there’s definitely a learning curve. Start small, use these steps, and let Budget Bestie help you along the way. Remember, budgeting is a skill that gets easier with practice. Stick with it—you’ve got this!
Hey, I’m Sasha, one half of the Budget Bestie team. After paying off $35k+ of debt with cash stuffing, I came up with the idea for this app to make cash stuffing simpler—without having to carry cash. Our app lets you budget on your own schedule and gives you full control of your money. Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned cash stuffer, I’m here to share tips and tools that’ll make cash stuffing easier for you. Let’s do this, bestie!
