A blog about life and finances ... and how they don't always go so nicely together

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Don't Hate The Budget

I often hear people say that they hate living on a budget.  Yes, it would be really nice to have so much money that I didn't have to keep close tabs on where it all goes, but I like knowing where my money goes.  People seem to get annoyed when they can't do something and tend to blame the budget.  It's not the budget's fault.  The budget is not some evil entity that dictates where your money goes.  You decide where the money goes. Yes, it's no fun when there isn't enough money to do what you want, but chances are it's because of the budget that you know that and won't accidentally come up short because you thought there was enough money.  Using a budget can be a great tool to help you ultimately save up for the things you want.

2 comments:

Sharon said...

I appreciate your post, as I have been looking at my budget in that way...and so, I try to tweak it, which has recently reduced my savings (always a good sign that I am NOT living within my means).

I'm glad I found your blog (and others) that help me affirm my frugal life -- and nourish me in the ongoing financial struggle.

Alison said...

@Sharon - As long as there is some savings, that's great! I think a budget has to be liveable, and allow for some wants when possible, otherwise I know I have a tendency just to give up on the budget and spend much more than I should.

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