After I wrote my most recent book, Basic Budgeting, I was browsing on the internet to see if there were any additional books or websites to recommend as additional resources. Most of the websites contained pretty much the same information. Then, I looked on Amazon.com to see if there were any other books to recommend as additional resources. The books also were mostly the same.
Budgeting is such a simple process that you don’t need numerous books and websites to help you. One good book or one good website is really all you need. You just need a source that will explain what a budget is, how to set up your own budget, how to use your budget, and what to do if you encounter problems or need to adjust your budget. I believe that my book does a really good job of explaining those things in an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand, easy-to-put-into-practice format without omitting any pertinent information.
I was actually able to tell you all about budgeting, and even include sample budgets and blank budget pages for your own personal budget, in less than 100 pages. If I can do all of that in less than 100 pages, budgeting surely can’t be too complex. It’s actually so easy that anyone can do it – even without my book!
When you budget, you take control of you finances. You know how much money you have to spend, what you spend it on, and when to quit spending. Yep, it’s that simple.
I don’t know when the word “budget” became so intimidating. Perhaps it stems from a fear of not being able to stay within your budget. Maybe it’s because you think that you can’t set up a budget and actually follow it. Maybe you’ve tried before but failed. But one of the great things about a budget is that you can adjust it as necessary. You can adjust it every month if you need to. If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.
Chances are, no one gets it right the first time, and if they do, either prices or their income change so they end up having to adjust it anyway. Budgets aren’t set in stone. There’s no one-size-fits-all budget. You just need to make a budget that works for you. You don’t even have to tell anyone else that you’re on a budget, and they won’t know unless you do. Your budget is about your finances, it’s personal.
I encourage you to make your own budget and try to follow it. If you’re skeptical, just agree to budget for 3 months. Give it a try and see how great it feels to be in control of your money. See what you’ve been missing; the control, the peace of mind, and the confidence. It’s truly something I think everyone should do.
Although in my browsing I didn’t come across any magic budget books or websites to recommend to you, I’m sure you can find one that works for you if you really need to. With all of the repetitive information I came across, the only resource I came across to recommend to you isn’t even technically a resource at all. It’s just an organizer, and you can budget just fine with or without it. I liked it because it was attractive, useful, and made by a woman who is committed to budgeting. The website is www.etsy.com/shop/mylilbudgetbook if you’d like to take a look. I used an organizer like this when I first started budgeting, and I found it to be really helpful.
The truth is, you don’t need any special book, website, organizer, or other tool to budget. You just need the will and the commitment. Other things may be helpful, but none of them are mandatory.
Article by Randi Millward
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