Why budgeting is a good idea

No one wants to create a budget or have to stick to one. It’s tedious, boring, and restricting all at once. But like eating your vegetables, budgeting is a good idea. Also like eating your vegetables, it will probably make you feel better.

Hard to believe? Ask anyone who’s adopted a budget and stuck with it. Most people say it’s made them feel more in control of their finances and, as a result, more confident about other aspects of their lives as well.

Budgeting is also the first step in good money management, no matter how much you’re starting with. Whether you want to save for a specific goal, make money on investments, or just feel more secure about your resources, managing expenses with a budget is the place to begin. Then you’ll understand how much surplus you have for those extra things.

There are lots of budget methods out there, from cash stuffing to 50/30/20 to pay yourself first. The best budget is the one you can use and keep using!

Pro tip: Getting started is the hardest part. Give budgeting a test run for three months and see how it goes.