You Need a Budget: The Proven System for Breaking the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Cycle, Getting Out of Debt, and Living the Life You Want

we need a system in place to drive our decisions. Without one, we’re spending and saving on whims.

HOW DOLLARS ARE LIKE MINUTES, HOW MINUTES ARE LIKE DOLLARS

Start today, with whatever you have in your bank account. Ask yourself: What do I need this money to do before I get paid again?

First look at your budget: Could you use that money to fund any of your true expenses more robustly? Have any new priorities come up that didn’t exist when you first started paying off your debt? If you decide your remaining debt is your most pressing priority, then sure, roll that cash flow into another balance.

The only way to capture that vibe during your date is by making your budget a part of your daily life together. If you’re both motivated to hit your goals, you’ll see that this happens pretty naturally.

Rule One makes you more aware of what your money is doing and helps you to stop spending on things that aren’t important to you. This gets you on the fast track to spending less than you earn.

The point is to keep your spending habits the same even when your income increases.

You may be guessing at certain spending categories, like fuel or groceries, in your first couple of months. That’s fine! You’ll get a realistic view of your spending the longer you budget together.

Your habits with money.

Write down your quality-of-life goals even if you don’t have money to assign to them right now.