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Budget

Hello. My name is Ann and I've fallen off the wagon. It has been nearly a year since I've written and followed a monthly budget. And this is a rally big deal to me because I love having a budget which sets boundaries for safe decision making and leaves me with a feeling of security. 



YNAB snapshot
It's past time to get the budget up and running again, so what format to ues? Kenn and I have tried some of the apps (YNAB, Mint, Every Dollar), we have used pre-formatted spreadsheets, and spreadsheets we have created ourselves, but this time, I am taking it right back down to the paper and pencil format I know and love. This is a simple tool that I first started using when I had my first apartment, 30 years ago. It is very comfortable to me.


   
A budget I created a few years back

I actually enjoy creating the categories and writing in the amounts for budget and actual. I like doing the math, making corrections, re-allocating. It's all part of the process and when I do it by  hand, it is very real. I feel the pain of overspending and feel very much in control of the outcomes. When spreadsheets and even worse, apps, do all the arithmatic behind the scenes, there is a disconnection between myself and the numbers. A disconnection from the consequences of decisions made. 




This time, Kenn and I have decided that I will be in charge of the creation and regular updating of the budget. That's not to say he won't be involved in it all and won't have to bide by it, because he will, but just that I will do the grunt work, and that's ok with me. When we've worked together on the budget before... let's just say it didn't go well. We are looking for different pieces of information from the tools and what worked for me didn't work for him. This way I can put in all the data to get the results which are meaningful to me, and then transfer them into a computer spreadsheet which is meaningful to him. We both win.

The budget I put together for October and then extended to the end of the year

It took me about an hour to create a new budget for next month, pulling bits and pieces from budgets I've used in the past, and it will probably take at least an hour to record the actual spending, pulling from the bank account records. For sure next month will be rough going too because the budget amounts will be guesstimates at best. Some categories will go over and others will be under, but in a couple months it will be smoothed out nicely

Looking forward to posting an update on our budget in a couple weeks.

Ta! Ann


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  1. Anonymous24 May, 2019

    Just stumbled upon your blog, love so much what you have to say! As a younger adult I always thought handling money would be much easier than it really is! I'm also a college student working part-time and am nervous for the part when I start to pay off so many loans! :)

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