Budget•losophy - The thinking, reasoning, and WISDOM of working a personal budget. Let's call it a mindset. Call it what you want, but never call it "Late for dinner." :-$

Because here's what... If you have plans for your hard-earned cash🙋‍♀️, there is no way around working a personal budget.

Here are Three Reasons people struggle to stick with a budget, or aren't willing to try. I'll share baby snip-its of my story. Oh what the heck, my story is simply proof that stupid decisions don't define us. Our decisions to course correct, are what will define us. 😏

1. They don't know their "WHY". 

When I was nearing my 34th year of life, I vividly recall feeling broke. Even though I made "good" money... 🤔

"Making "good" money can help. BUT, Making good money "choices" will build WEALTH."

I also realized much of my family didn't have cash reserves to retire or live the lifestyle they wanted. Needless to say, I saw a legacy trend, I didn't want to be part of. It scared me to death, when I imagined my children being burdened by me for not saving and making poor financial choices. So, my legacy is my "WHY". What is your "why" for having money goals? A goal is only a goal, until you have a good solid well-defined reason in writing. Then say it OUT LOUD. After that, it becomes possible to achieve it. 

"Make your "WHY" bigger than your "BUT"."

2. They don't know where to start.

When I decided "enough is enough, I'm not living paycheck-to-paycheck for another day!", I realized I needed to gain true financial self awareness. The only way to get there was to take Audit.

The only way to discover where your money is going, is to start paying attention. The only way to get myself on an "honest" budget, was to BE HONEST! 

So, I took out a pencil and paper, and wrote down three categories. Income, Expenses, and Debts. And started getting down and dirty with reality. In a summarized nutshell, this is what I do with my clients. Once I had that "ah ha" moment, and it was all in black and white... I got after it... "After the anger, shame. and regret passed of course."🤬😞🥺

Prior to doing your first budget, you "think you know, but you have no idea" where your money is going. SO, you must do a deep discovery, by reviewing all behaviors for the past 3 months, including but not limited to: 3 months bank activity, payroll stub review (are we paying too much or too little into taxes?, are we paying into misc unnecessary insurances?, etc...). Are there misc fixed or variable expenses that are silly, like subscriptions we don't even remember signing up for? Is eating out "OUT of control"? And what about the $8 coffees? And so on... Where do we need to tighten up and course correct?

3. They get frustrated and QUIT, without giving it a fair shake.

When I started my first budget, it was a mess! What I thought I was spending on groceries was really double, I kept referring back to my bank balance, thinking I had money when I didn't, I realized I was a "yes" Mom way too often, and the list goes on... 👛

The first 3 months of living on a budget are the hardest. I tell my clients, "it's going to be messy, but be willing to consistently plug in the honest numbers day in and day out, and you'll find your money... In the BUDGET!"

"Own your life, and be the #boss of your #money, with a #budget."

When many people hear the term "budget", they think limits, constraints, and chains. They ponder being held back from the freedom to spend the way they want to. This is a large misconception, and unfortunately the reason most don't use a budget. Budgeting creates freedoms and gives us permissions spend. #mindfulspending

It's time to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, and acknowledge that having a plan in action will fruit freedoms beyond our wildest dreams.

~ AD