Now more than ever people are looking to save money. Whether it’s to create a nest savings, purchase a home, new car, college or just to save some dough. We collected some helpful information and included a free printable budget worksheet to help you find your way in the savings game.
Ways to get started with a budget:
- Look at your spending – you have to know what you spend money on and how much in order to figure out what in your spending is NEEDED and WANTS you have in your budget. Sometimes wants don’t have a place in a budget until you have established a stable savings.
- Budget what you will spend – once you know where your money is going, you can give allowances to certain things that like in the first step are NEEDS vs. WANTS.
- Create savings goals – be realistic, if you can afford to save $20 a week, then it’s $20 a week. If you can do $5 do $5. Every little bit will add up over time, this is important step – paying yourself first means you are paying your savings something so the financial burdens are less of financial burdens in the future. A little can go a long way and it takes time to build up a solid savings.
- Write it down – use a budget worksheet like this one from Savings Dollars & Sense or a spreadsheet of your own to track and hold your spending accountable. Update it often and stay focused with your eye on the prize. Whether you want to save $1,000, or $100 you need a plan.