Budgeting Without Stress: A Simple Money Plan.

Write about your approach to budgeting.

Simply put, Budgeting is the process of creating a plan to spend your money. This spending plan is referred to as a budget. Creating this spending plan allows you to determine in advance whether you will have enough money to do the things you need to do or would like to do.

I remembered when I left my comfort zone, I didn’t have much money saved to rent an apartment at the time so I was staying with a family friend till I was able to save up and get my own place.

I got my first job as a class teacher, though I love teaching, but truthfully, the salary is not very lovable. But at least it’s my first step and I wasn’t spending anything on transportation because the school is relatively close to me.

The challenge of budgeting seriously began when I got a better job, and a good-paying one at that but the distance is not favourable, so I have to move, it’s just like moving to another city, and I have to start saving vigorously.

It wasn’t easy I must confess but I had no choice. Initially, I managed to share an apartment with two of my other colleagues. So I was staying there, saving, praying, and hoping to get my own place and move out at soon as possible.

There are days I only had one meal or rather an extra unhealthy food just to keep up. For months I didn’t get anything new for myself, shoes, clothes, bags, wigs, etc. Though I needed them for work, I have to manage the ones I have already because of the plan I want to fulfill.

There are some days I couldn’t hold it any longer, I could feel the pain, the struggle, the overwhelming huddle crashing like an avalanche on me, and most night as I lay in bed I couldn’t withhold the tears anymore, I just let it fall, which after I would tell myself “this is not the end, you will get through this”.

Yeah, it took me a year to finally save and get my own apartment, and the joy of that day knew no bounds. I was very happy not because of the house, but because I was disciplined and responsible enough to make it happen.

So, what is my approach to budgeting? How do I feel about budgeting? As I said earlier, budgeting is the process of creating a plan to spend your money. Budgeting and planning goes hand in hand, one cannot be separated from the other. Before you budget, you must have a plan.

What do you want to plan for, do you want to buy a house, a car, do you want to invest in a business, or plan for your children’s future, you must have something in mind before budgeting for it.

Approach to budgetting

There are basic things you must consider before planning for anything which includes:-

• Set a realistic goal

Inasmuch as you believe in yourself and in your capabilities, always know your limit, do what is withing your strength, everyone is not the same, you know yourself more than anyone else. So set a goal you know you can achieve.

• Know your priorities

This is the most important of them all. There is a difference between what you want and what you need, so always focus on what you need and invest in it, it’s not a bad idea to go for what you need once in a while, but when it comes to budgeting, plan for what you need, and what you want will follow.

• Take responsibility

It is your responsibility to be igent in your budgetting, there shouldn’t be any room for excuses. Being responsible is being in control and taking charge, master the act of self control and self discipline because it takes a responsible man who has mastered the act of both self discipline and self control to be able to save.

I would love to hear your approach to budgeting as well. Feel free to share in the comments, people might be touched by it.