Re: Do You Budget?
I use mvelopes it is an internet based computer envelope system that works for me. I have a yearly budget and it is distrubuted monthly to the envelopes. I can trasfer 'left over' money to savings or let it sit there for next month. I budget to allow for stocking up on bulk purchases and I plan for all the period expenses by putting a little away each month and letting it build so that when the bill is due the money is there. I also use this method to 'balance' my utility bills. I figure the yearly average, add a little to cover usage increase divided by 12 for my monthly amount. I 'pre-fund' things from saving if I am starting at an odd place. (ie in the expesive months instead of the cheap months). This way I always have a positive balance in my utilities and can adjust if needed.
I fund monthly and have a monthly based budget. Meaning the checks I deposit on Jan 10 & 25 will be 'funded' to the envelopes Feb 1st for Feb bills. This did require a chunck of savings to start, but once started it is easy to mantain and you are always have a month to make any needed adjustments.
The stress relief I have felt from this system is beyond description and I would never go back to paycheck to paycheck and thinking the money in my checking account is what I had to live on. Boy was that a LIE!
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