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Good for you. Your heading down the correct life path.
After 41 years as a corporate department manager where I was annually judged by my ability to live within my
Department budget or ( altered Budget ) . I still utilize the skills in my retired life which I learned in my work life.
Just two items to think about.
1: A budget is a planned expectation of what you THINK is going to happen. So plan the best you can, and expect a few unplanned events which may occur.
2: If your finding it necessary to alter your planned budget every couple days. Attempt to look furtherer into your future with different expectations. ( not Rose colored glasses. ) Because Oop's do happen.
I like financial saving, investing, and budgeting in general.
I like exploring financial topics -- and mostly seeing savings and assets go up, up up.
When I was younger (in my 30s and early 40s) I was addicting to working overtime so I could see a huge paycheck.
It was like I had dollar signs for eye balls Kah-ching, kah-ching was all I could think about.
I watch a lot of financial advice and investing shows, I love business topics.
There's so much to explore...budgeting, saving, investing.....a person's thoughts/believes about money affects every aspect of his or her life.....
Good for you. Your heading down the correct life path.
After 41 years as a corporate department manager where I was annually judged by my ability to live within my
Department budget or ( altered Budget ) . I still utilize the skills in my retired life which I learned in my work life.
Just two items to think about.
1:A budget is a planned expectation of what you THINK is going to happen. So plan the best you can, and expect a few unplanned events which may occur.
2: If your finding it necessary to alter your planned budget every couple days. Attempt to look furtherer into your future with different expectations. ( not Rose colored glasses. ) Because Oop's do happen.
Hey. I am not sure if #2 was directed toward my initial post concerning me updating my budget often or not, but I just wanted to clear up something.
When I said update, I meant I pretty much make sure a payment/withdrawal/deposit was accounted for according to my budget via checking it often. Then I look at my current total, take that and compare it to my original budget by looking to see what other expenses I have that's left. It keeps me from assuming I have a bit more discretionary income than I actually do.
Previously when I was frustrated with budgeting, it was because I would make out my budget, see what payments were cleared, but I mistakenly felt that my budget was solid. I thought I had it so together that I wouldn't check it to stay updated- this resulted in a few overdraft charges last year, sigh.
Ugh. I really would like to budget. I've even tried to get help setting up a budget by offering to pay bookkeepers and accountants. I've asked family and friends for help over the years.
I always get responses along the lines of "Oh, it's easy. All you have to do is..." At that point they either rattle off amounts, percentages, or suggest prioritizing needs.
It is not easy for me. I need something more concrete. I started thinking I had an odd defect that made me incapable of organizing the simple budget. But, I realize that much of my work, which is second nature to me, is incomprehensible to others.
So, I just don't spend anything beyond basic living expenses and whatever I have left when I get paid again, I put in savings.
Not much of a plan, I admit.
I really wish I could find someone, whom I would pay, to help me set up a budget.
I know some people dread doing a budget to the point where they won't do one at all.
It took some time for me to actually enjoy it because while I used to make them out several months in advance, I wouldn't follow them to the tee.
Now I am much better at budgeting and I update my it every other day - I actually look forward to it.
What about you all?
I see a budding spreadsheet fanatic -- planning retirement and savings, LOL.
Quote:
When I said update, I meant I pretty much make sure a payment/withdrawal/deposit was accounted for according to my budget via checking it often. Then I look at my current total, take that and compare it to my original budget by looking to see what other expenses I have that's left. It keeps me from assuming I have a bit more discretionary income than I actually do.
Previously when I was frustrated with budgeting, it was because I would make out my budget, see what payments were cleared,
Question - why wait until until a payment clears before entering into the payments column/reducing available budget? You've made the payment, it isn't going to change, is it?
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Kah-ching, kah-ching was all I could think about.
