Pro tip: I used to think a budget was just a list of bills until my car broke down in Austin

For years, I would just pay my bills and spend the rest without tracking anything. Then last summer, my car needed a new transmission in Austin and I had zero savings for it. I had to put the $2,800 repair on a credit card. That was my wake-up call. Now, I use a simple spreadsheet to plan for every dollar, including a 'car repair' line that gets $75 a month. It's not fancy, but I'm not panicking anymore. What's a simple system that actually worked for you when you started budgeting?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_elizabeth29d ago

Try the envelope method with real cash.

grace_perry4429d ago

My cash would just run away screaming.