Comments on: Five Steps to Effective Budgeting http://www.moneycrashers.com/five-steps-to-effective-budgeting/ Personal Finance Blog, Your Guide to Financial Fitness Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:29:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Neilhttp://www.moneycrashers.com/five-steps-to-effective-budgeting/#comment-14810 Neil Mon, 13 Sep 2010 02:18:54 +0000 http://moneycrashers.com/?p=25#comment-14810 I use the free website www.mint.com. It has been great and works nice with your iphone or android. I use the free website www.mint.com. It has been great and works nice with your iphone or android.

]]> By: Jameshttp://www.moneycrashers.com/five-steps-to-effective-budgeting/#comment-11922 James Fri, 21 May 2010 17:30:23 +0000 http://moneycrashers.com/?p=25#comment-11922 you make some good points with writing it down and not just thinking about the process of a budget but the actual physical writing down of the #'s and seeing it first hand. you make some good points with writing it down and not just thinking about the process of a budget but the actual physical writing down of the #’s and seeing it first hand.

]]> By: single momhttp://www.moneycrashers.com/five-steps-to-effective-budgeting/#comment-10812 single mom Tue, 06 Apr 2010 04:32:33 +0000 http://moneycrashers.com/?p=25#comment-10812 I am a single mom and its absolutely crucial for me to have a budget. I'd be lost in a sea of expenses if I didn't have a budget and didn't organize my finances properly. It's not fun but it's the only way to keep on top of it all. I am a single mom and its absolutely crucial for me to have a budget. I’d be lost in a sea of expenses if I didn’t have a budget and didn’t organize my finances properly. It’s not fun but it’s the only way to keep on top of it all.

]]> By: Jesshttp://www.moneycrashers.com/five-steps-to-effective-budgeting/#comment-8843 Jess Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:39:53 +0000 http://moneycrashers.com/?p=25#comment-8843 I'm still in the process of figuring out what works for me, I have a lot of credit card debt to pay down ugh...I think I'm going to try the envelope system, I think that's the only thing I haven't tried. Might actually feel good to have cash for once! I’m still in the process of figuring out what works for me, I have a lot of credit card debt to pay down ugh…I think I’m going to try the envelope system, I think that’s the only thing I haven’t tried. Might actually feel good to have cash for once!

]]> By: Seanhttp://www.moneycrashers.com/five-steps-to-effective-budgeting/#comment-8444 Sean Sun, 24 Jan 2010 03:39:33 +0000 http://moneycrashers.com/?p=25#comment-8444 Great advice all around. When I still had credit card debt that I need to pay down, I started out with a big Excel spreadsheet. I was able to project out a year in advance my major spending categories, income, and debt payments. This way I could make a pretty good judgement of when I would be done with my debt. This worked out great for me and really helped to keep me on track and motivated since I could see the end. Now that I am out of debt I use mint.com to keep track of my budget. I really like that I can keep track of where I am in my budget on my iPhone and my wife can also check in and see our finances without having to fire up Quicken or anything like that. I think mint is definitely more geared towards "maintenance" budgeting over goal budgeting. Anyway, lots of good systems out there, find the one that is right for you and stick to it! Great advice all around. When I still had credit card debt that I need to pay down, I started out with a big Excel spreadsheet. I was able to project out a year in advance my major spending categories, income, and debt payments. This way I could make a pretty good judgement of when I would be done with my debt. This worked out great for me and really helped to keep me on track and motivated since I could see the end.

Now that I am out of debt I use mint.com to keep track of my budget. I really like that I can keep track of where I am in my budget on my iPhone and my wife can also check in and see our finances without having to fire up Quicken or anything like that. I think mint is definitely more geared towards “maintenance” budgeting over goal budgeting.

Anyway, lots of good systems out there, find the one that is right for you and stick to it!

]]> By: Griff (Financial Freedom 5G Team)http://www.moneycrashers.com/five-steps-to-effective-budgeting/#comment-8304 Griff (Financial Freedom 5G Team) Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:43:27 +0000 http://moneycrashers.com/?p=25#comment-8304 Good tips on budgeting. I agree that people just need to find a system that works for them. The key is that it actually WORKS! Most people start budgeting and end up quitting after a few months. I have found http://financialsecrets101.com and the 5G Plan to be very helpful in finding a maintainable spending and managing plan. I like being able to focus on the big wins rather than spending all of my time on the little things that don't make much of an impact. Budgeting is one of those BIG wins! Thanks for the post! Good tips on budgeting. I agree that people just need to find a system that works for them. The key is that it actually WORKS! Most people start budgeting and end up quitting after a few months.

I have found http://financialsecrets101.com and the 5G Plan to be very helpful in finding a maintainable spending and managing plan. I like being able to focus on the big wins rather than spending all of my time on the little things that don’t make much of an impact. Budgeting is one of those BIG wins!

Thanks for the post!

]]> By: Big Spenderhttp://www.moneycrashers.com/five-steps-to-effective-budgeting/#comment-7633 Big Spender Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:58:00 +0000 http://moneycrashers.com/?p=25#comment-7633 Oops. http://debtbeat.com/2009/09/the-budget-kit.html Oops. http://debtbeat.com/2009/09/the-budget-kit.html

]]> By: Big Spenderhttp://www.moneycrashers.com/five-steps-to-effective-budgeting/#comment-7632 Big Spender Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:57:10 +0000 http://moneycrashers.com/?p=25#comment-7632 Budgeting doesn't come natural to most people, especially on the heels of the "easy credit" decade. It's worth investing a few bucks in a good budget planning book like The Budget Kit (http://debtbeat.com/2009/09/the-budget-kit.html)for worksheets and such. Budgeting doesn’t come natural to most people, especially on the heels of the “easy credit” decade. It’s worth investing a few bucks in a good budget planning book like The Budget Kit (http://debtbeat.com/2009/09/the-budget-kit.html)for worksheets and such.

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