How many of you actually stick to the budget you make, and how do you do it?

I stick to mine, kind of. I have two that I use simultaneously. I have the fixed bills that I expect every month and plan on no matter what. Then I have a list of potentials.....insurance, medical, b-days, jaunts, sports/activities for the kids, and home repairs/needs. Those are more flexible at times since I don't always have them come up, but I like to prepare for them just in case. Then I also figure in my "extra" money for the month after I know what money MUST go out. So, I guess I have a loose budget sometimes, but I'm pretty good now about sticking to it. Especially since we have been 1 year and 7 months without credit cards to fall back on.

__________________


Parker, Wyndser, and Carson....................Wyndser (in blue) with her cousin

How can I honestly afford not too. If I stick to the budget for the month at the end I am ok, We have paid all the bills, paid down the CC debt and feel good. If not I feel terible I regret the impulse buys, I feel helpless as our debt has increased. I don't want to have to fall back on my CCs, they are nice to have but I would be so much more relaxed if I was back to having no consumer debt again

__________________
Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006

We stick to ours pretty well. Groceries, gas, eating out and pocket money are all doled out twice a month, though there is the occasional time that one of us will have to use the credit card for gas, if it's gone up massivly, or we need part of the gas cash for extra deals at the grocery, but usually we stick well to it. I also allow a small amount each month mentally for things on the credit card (paid off each month), like household stuff, or sheets, or clothes. Nothing too extravagant, and I monitor the cards so if I see that something is looking too high, we don't spend anything for a while. Its been a little bit more difficult as of late, with being pregnant with the first, and having doctor bills and to buy larger bras or panties, stocking up on diapers and the like, I've spent a little more than I'm used to, but DH got a little extra work for the summer, so it should all work out.

__________________
"And the state of his bathroom -- I'm not one to gossip, but there are things crusted on his sink that have not simply developed intelligent life but have in all probability by now evolved their own political systems." Cain describes Abel in in SANDMAN #70

We've been working on our budget since March. I'd say ours is pretty set in stone right now. We do stick to it. At first, it was because we had no choice! We had a ton of bills to pay, and the ONLY way we could keep our head above water was to follow our strict budget. Now, things are better, but we still stick to our budget because we know we have goals we want to reach. I don't know what we would do if we didn't have our budget!

Gosh, I just read through that again, and it sounds so goody-two-shoes!! I didn't mean for it to come across that way!!!

__________________
If you need to get in touch with me, my email is teach1107910@yahoo.com.

I stick to my budget because
1) I made it a priority to do so
2) I made it easy to do.

I have an excel spreadsheet that is my budget (I change it as needed) and then I use cash envelopes for most of my line items... then when the cash is gone I get it from another envelope or do not buy it al all!

Also, my rule is
1) pay us first - savings
2) pay bills second
3) extra goes to the other items that are flexible

Erica

__________________

"It's one of the most beautiful compensations in life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have to stick to mine. I have everything directly withdrawal from my checking account. So by the 15th all my bills are paid. I budget 60 every week fro groceries or 125 every 2 weeks, 35 a month for household, which is cleaning supplies, paper products or anything else I need to keep the house in order, 50 for diapers and wipes, 60 to the kids savings, and 150 spending money, This is for any fun activities and such, Drive thru dinners, which I have cut out, but sometimes we get .99 coupons for happy meals. I budget 50 a month for clothes and shoes, and another 50 a month for gifts through the year.

I have everything that is billed every 3 months broken down in three month increments and then deposited into a seperate checking account. It heps me for those expenses. I find that if I have my money alotted to where it goes, I don't spend as much. Also, I use CASH only. It makes a world of difference. I just took the kids school shopping and only had 175, even though I used my Kohl's charge, I knew I couldn't go above that. I can't borrow from one account and hope to pay it back next month, that drove me crazy. I have my envelopes I carry with me and I shop with a list. I don't shop for recreation anymore, which to me is a fighting battle EVERYDAY EVERY HOUR!!!.

Hope that helps a bit!!

I stick to mine pretty closely. I have my payroll check directly deposited and use the bill pay system from my bank. that way I don't even see the money. I use my debit card to get groceries and gas. I think that I am going to start using cash for that though, groceries and gas are the two areas that I go over a bit.. everything else is pretty much the same every month.

I use a budget I created on Quicken. I use Quicken everyday so I keep a close on the spending. It helps to budget in certain things like birthday gifts, special events or vacations/day trips. I have a set amount set aside for the unexpected and emergencies. All I have left in my account after earmarking all the budgetary items is all I have for miscellaneous spending... which isn't much! I must be doing a good job anticipating our needs because I seldom ever need to dip into the "Misc Budget"

When I make our budget (annually), I make sure that it is realistic. I start with "fixed" expenses (I really don't like using the word "fixed" because I believe everything can be changed/negotiated), then budget debt payments, then savings, then play money.
I keep track of every penny that we spend, so I now where we stand. I don't care if we overspend in one catergory one or two months, because I am more interested in our annual goals.
I also realize that life happens and sometimes things have to be adjusted.

__________________
Lena