Top Tips for Creating a Strict Financial Budget

Creating and sticking to a strict financial budget will really help optimize and improve your financial situation, not to mention reducing your stress levels.

Whether you are keen to get out of debt, make financial cutbacks, or maximize your income and savings, a strict budget will help you gain control over your money and also enjoy some future-forecasting.

If you are filled with dread at the mere thought of checking your bank balance, then this article is for you! Read on to discover 8 top tips for creating and sticking to a financial budget which will really improve your financial outlook.

Setting Your Budget

If you have no idea where to start when it comes to money matters, follow these five basic steps to create a basic financial budget first:

• Track your income – make a list of your monthly paychecks, freelance or side-hustle income, plus any extras, such as eBay or garage sale money, inheritance, or lotto wins.
• Track your expenses – this list should include the 4 pillars of survival:  food, shelter, utility bills and transportation, followed by all other monthly expenses including: debt repayments, savings, monthly subscriptions, insurance, personal spending, plus any other miscellaneous costs.
• Deduct your expenses from your income – if you implement the ‘zero-based budget plan’ mentioned below, then you should have no money left over each month, but if you do then don’t let the money go to waste on a frivolous purchase; assign it a task. Alternatively, if you find yourself in the red, make extra cutbacks or increase your hours on freelance work or any side-hustles you may have taken on to catch up financially.
• Hold yourself accountable – monitor your transactions and keep track of your expenses and income as the month progresses in order to avoid overspending.
• Adjust your budget each month – first track the month ahead, then alter your budget accordingly taking into account any additional costs (such as wedding presents, birthdays, or vacations), plus any extra income you anticipate earning.

Implement A Zero-Based Budget

In simple terms, this equates to income – expenses = $0. In other words, after you have created your budget, your income subtracted from your expenditure should add up to zero, with nothing left over.

When you budget to zero, every dollar should be assigned to a task, whether it be repaying a loan, paying off a credit card, or adding to your savings account

Budgeting to zero is a great way of maximizing every dollar you earn, rather than spending every dollar you earn. It is also the most practical way of saving, by incorporating your savings into your monthly budget, and keeping payments flexible but consistent.

Make Your Monthly Budget Flexible

Your financial expenditure will vary from month to month, with some months being lighter or heavier than others. You may have a vacation, birthday, or car repair bill to pay, so your budget should reflect these extra expenses.

Adjust your budget each month in accordance with any extra expenditure and also keep paying into your savings account throughout the year. Flexibility and consistency are key to budgeting.

Beware Hidden Fees

Keep abreast of any monthly subscription fees, which spread over a year, can really add up. Is it necessary to subscribe to multiple streaming platforms, or can you cut back in this area – i.e., stick to Netflix and Spotify and cancel the rest?

Also, make a note of any ‘free’ trials on platforms such as Amazon Prime and set a reminder to cancel before you incur any monthly charges.

Take a close look at your bank account too, tracking any ‘hidden’ monthly banking or transaction fees, and swapping to a free account if necessary.

Ensure to Factor Loan Repayments into Your Strict Budget

When creating your strict budget, it’s easy to forget about any debt/loan payments that need to be paid back monthly. It’s important to factor in these payments first as forgetting to pay back a loan or missing a payment can impact your credit score.

Don’t fret as it’s very possible to stick to a budget while you repay loans. It may be slightly trickier, and your budget may be tighter but it’s very possible.

Shop Online to Reduce Grocery Costs

Shopping online is a simple, effective way to keep track of your monthly food budget and avoid waste and over-spending.

Buying your food online and saving your shopping list for future orders will really save you time, help you cut-back on impulse purchases of faddy foods you are never going to eat, and plan your monthly meals and diet.

Creating a monthly meal plan will also enable you to eat more healthily and mindfully, in addition to maintaining a consistent budget.

Keep An Emergency Stash for Unexpected Expenses

It is essential to set aside an emergency fund in a subsidiary account, reserved for miscellaneous expenses such as an emergency root canal or household repairs.

This way when something outside of your budget comes up you can still cover your costs. Take note that if any of these expenses occur multiple times throughout the year, it may be worth incorporating them permanently into your budget.

Beware Credit Cards

One of the simplest, most effective ways to get out and stay out of debt is to cut up your credit cards, or at least reserve them for special purchases or vacations only.

Your finances will dramatically improve without the drain of monthly credit card repayments, high interest rates, and fee increases, so stick to using a debit card; this way the money will come straight out of your bank account, and you will live within your means.

If you are a frequent traveler and like to take an emergency credit card for back-up, just make sure that when you are back home you hide it in a drawer!