We used to just guess our monthly spending until I made a simple change last year

For years, my husband and I would just check our bank account and hope we had enough left at the end of the month. It was stressful. Last March, I started writing down every single thing we spent money on for 30 days, even the $4 coffee. Seeing it all on paper was a shock, especially the $300 we were dropping on takeout. Now, we use a basic spreadsheet to plan our money before the month even starts, and we put $200 straight into savings on payday. It's not fancy, but it stopped the surprise of being short on cash. How do you track your family's spending to make sure you're on track?

3 comments

3 Comments

dakotab9314d ago

What did you do with the takeout budget after you saw it? We're stuck in that exact loop right now.

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wesleyb2014d ago

You actually tracked a takeout budget? That level of planning is beyond me. We just stare at the fridge and order pizza.

robert_scott5714d ago

We just deleted the budget line. Seeing the number made us order more, like a weird challenge. Now we keep a cash envelope in the kitchen for it. When the money's gone, we're done until next month. It stops the guilt cycle cold. Staring at empty envelopes is less stressful than staring at a spreadsheet.