How to Set Up a Budget

According to a Debt.com survey, fewer Americans followed a budget in 2019, down from 2018, even though 93% of those surveyed said it's important for others to budget! The survey revealed that 33% of those polled do not budget their money.

Are you one of the 33% who don't use a budget? Creating and sticking with a budget is known to be one of the most effective ways to manage and save money. So why aren’t more people doing it? Especially in a time where online banking and budgeting programs are on the rise, one would assume that more people would use these resources to manage their finances. In fact, if there's one bright spot in Debt.com's survey, 74% of those polled between the ages of 23 - 38 keep a budget, more so than any other age group, perhaps because they're a demographic comfortable using budgeting apps.

Why Create and Use a Budget?

If you’re not convinced that you need to use a budget, consider this: budgeting helps you come up with a solid plan on how you will spend and save your money, ensuring that you have enough funds for the items you need – and can save for other items you want. You can also use a budget to avoid getting into credit card and other debt and incurring hefty finance charges on any money you may need or choose to borrow that you don’t have on hand.

A personal budget helps you set and reach your financial goals at any stage in life, whether it’s saving for your first house or preparing for retirement. It also forces you to only spend what you have allotted toward any one item, and gives you the peace of mind that at the end of the month, you will have all your bills covered. Ideally a budget should also include savings for rainy day or extraordinary expenses, as well as long-term savings such as your kids’ college or retirement.

In sum, with a solid budget in place, you are in control of your money. Here's how to go about it:

Getting Started With a Budget

If you are just starting to create a budget, there are lots of online resources out there that will help you define and allocate budget amounts and percentages.

Generally, according to Dave Ramsey, there are roughly ten categories for budgeting: housing (25-35%); food (10-15%); transportation (10-15%); insurance (10-25%); utilities (5-10%); health (5-10%); recreational (5-10%); personal (10-15%); giving (10-15%); and saving (10-15%). Your percentages may be different, which is why it’s recommended that you track your money for a month to see how you are currently spending it. (Hanscom Federal Credit Union offers a free guide with worksheets and tips to get you started.)

For many, mobile budgeting tools are helpful. Check out the apps available to you through your smartphone. You can also find a free budget calculator offered by Quicken here, based on your income and expenses.

Of course, the best budget on the planet is only as good as how close you stick with it. That’s where discipline comes in. You might have to say no to that impulse purchase, but the payoff may be taking that vacation that you always dreamed of.

Every financial expert agrees that budgeting pays off, both in the short term and the long term. Today, there are so many tools available to help you budget that there should be no excuse not to. Don’t be like the majority of Americans that don’t plan and manage their money with a budget: get one started, or review your existing budget today.

Do you have any budgeting advice you’d like to give? Just let us know in the comments below!

Hanscom Federal Credit Union’s Money Management Planner is our most popular free guide. Find out why so many members use this tool to create a personal budget. Start your financial plan by downloading a copy today.