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INTRODUCTION TO BUDGETING

Budgeting is the first step to financial success. Oftentimes, we’ve heard people talk about how a certain commodity isn’t in their budget, and so they can’t afford to buy it. This drives the quest to fully grasp the concept of this economic terminology. Every individual’s goal is to be able to afford whatever he wants. In understanding people’s attitudes toward financial goals, the following assumptions about humans are true. This general attitude guides their approach to making and spending money.

ASSUMPTIONS THAT AFFECTS BUDGETING

1. That man is a rational and social being. This indicates that humans possess the mental capacity to reason and think, which enables us to perform a variety of cognitive tasks such as concept formulation, assessment of ideas, and reasoning. 
2. A need is a requirement for functioning and existing. Wants are anything that enhances the quality of your life.
3. A person’s income must be greater than his expenses. If the reverse is the case, it is highly detrimental to the financial well-being of the individual.   
4. A person must instill healthy habits to get the best out of budgeting.

PERSONAL INCOME VS EXPENSES IN BUDGETING

This concept of personal income can be defined as all the earnings an individual makes over a period of time. Personal income comes from salaries, investments, and other assets the individual has acquired over time. Income generally refers to the value or sum an individual and business earn in exchange for their labor and goods.

There are basic expenses that an individual must pay at all times, and these are called cost of living expenses. The cost of living expenses might differ from person to person depending on lifestyle, choices, and family size. The common cost of living expenses includes feeding, rent, clothing, taxes, education, transportation, etc. 

To further break these two concepts into bits, income is money coming in, and expenses are money going out. Every individual’s goal should therefore be to maximize income while minimizing expenditure. Understanding these two concepts helps individuals project their financial standing and plan toward their goals.

WHY DO I NEED TO PLAN MY   FINANCE? 

Personal finance is mostly relative to the individual’s mindset, choices, and lifestyle. Certain individuals have no financial projections, nor do they have goals.  Having a financial plan is just like intending to have a fit body, and then taking steps to cut down on unnecessary junk food and registering at the local gym. In the same way, you plan for your social lifestyle, and physical body, this same energy should be directed toward your finances. 

Financial planning is a methodical process whereby a person makes the most of their financial resources by managing their money wisely to best meet their financial goals and objectives. We all know the health implications of eating too much, so we pay attention to what we eat and how we eat it. Likewise, you should also pay attention to the implications of spending more than you earn. A financial heart attack, including debt, bankruptcy, and a lifetime of bad credit, may result from continuously spending more than you make. A personal financial plan functions as a financial diet plan.

WHAT THEN IS BUDGETING?

A budget is an economic concept; governments, companies, and individuals use budgets to estimate their income and outlays for a given period. Budgets are essentially plans for a specific period and are known to increase the success of any financial endeavor significantly. 

The objective of a personal budget is to minimize expenses and maximize savings. You can use the additional money you save by reducing your less-needed expenditure and raising your savings rate toward significant long-term financial objectives. Budgeting is essential if you want to control your spending, be ready for unforeseen circumstances, and be able to afford your needs without falling into debt. It doesn’t have to be tedious, you don’t have to be brilliant at arithmetic, and keeping track of your income and expenses doesn’t mean you can’t buy items that you want. It simply means that you will be more aware of where your money is going and that you will be more in control of your finances. 

The concept of budgeting is not to make you feel bad after spending. The goal of budgeting is to ensure you can save some money each month, ideally at least 10% of your total income, or at the very least, to ensure you are not spending more than you bring in.

. To successfully create a personal budget, you must first meticulously track your income and expenses. Making a budget is simple once you keep track of your money. Your expenditure is far more difficult to identify or track. You may start the crucial process of classifying all your income and spending once you have a complete list of all your bank deposits, outgoing checks, and transfers.

Having the right attitude toward money is the backbone of having a budget. 

CREATING A BUDGET

The following steps will take you to a healthy financial budget   

• FIGURE OUT YOUR NET INCOME:

Your net income serves as the cornerstone of an efficient budget. Your take-home pay is the sum of your income less tax, including other benefits. Focusing on your gross pay instead of your net pay may cause you to overspend because you will believe you have more money accessible than you have. Keep thorough records of your contracts, and compensations if you are a contractor or a freelancer to manage erratic revenue. 

• ANALYSE YOUR SPENDINGS

Finding out where your money is going comes after determining how much money you make. This will help you cut costs by keeping track of and classifying your expenses. List your fixed expenses first. These are typical monthly expenses like utility bills, rent, and so forth. Next, make a list of your variable expenses, which include things like groceries, transportation, and feeding, among others, and could differ from month to month.

• SET SENSIBLE OBJECTIVES: 

Make a list of short-term and long-term financial goals. Short-term goals which can be completed in one to three years might include actions like creating an emergency fund or reducing debts. Long-term goals take years to accomplish. Although your goals don’t have to be unchangeable, knowing what they are can inspire you to keep to your budget. For instance, if you know you are saving for a vacation, it might be simpler to reduce spending.    

Plan

The difference between what you spend and what you wish to spend is where everything comes together. To estimate your spending over the next few months, use the list of variable and fixed expenses that you have established. Contrast it with your net income.  Consider creating direct and clear spending limits on each category.

You could decide to further segment your spending by dividing it into wants and needs. For example, petrol is considered a need if you will commute to work in your car every day. On the other hand, an online movie subscription might be considered a want. When you’re looking for strategies to reroute money toward your financial goals. This distinction becomes crucial.   

• REVIEW YOUR BUDGET FROM TIME TO TIME:

All items in your budget may not be certain. For example, your expenses might change, you might get a salary increment, and you might reach a goal and want to set a new goal. Whatever the reason is, establish the practice of routinely reviewing your budget by using the preceding procedures. 

Conclusion

Knowing your monthly income and expenses will help you to endure that your money is being used for the best. A budget can help people who have a good salary and enough money left over after paying all expenses to maximize their savings and investments.

Any budget should concentrate on identifying and categorizing all expenses that happen during the month, quarter, and year if one’s monthly expenses normally absorb the majority of net income.

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