How to make saving on a budget easy

Do you find it difficult to control impulse spending? Saving on a budget can sometimes feel like a bad diet. The restrictions can be difficult to stick to and end up making you feel worse when you do cheat on your plan.

An effective budget for someone else may not be the right budget for you. Everyone can manage their money once they find a strategy that works for them. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s 2021 survey found that 56% of Canadian households are using a budget, compared to just 49% two years ago. But budgeting isn’t one size fits all. The right approach depends on your personal financial situation.

If your paycheck was delayed by a week, how would that affect your finances? Would you still be able to buy your necessities and make payments for recurring bills? 53% of Canadians say they are unable to cover an unexpected $1,000 bill, according to an Angus Reid Institute poll. Inflation has made it even more difficult for many people to save money, as prices have risen rapidly to a 30-year high.
 
These budgeting tips can work for everyone, whether you’re looking for an easy plan to pay off your debt, control overspending, or simply save a little more each month.
 

Which budgeting style is right for you?

There are several different budgeting philosophies online, and you’ve probably come across two common methods: The 50/30/20 method and the zero-based budgeting method.

50/30/20 budgeting refers to how you allocate different percentages of your income. 50% of your income goes toward needs, 30% goes to wants, and 20% goes to savings and repayments. This method is easy to follow no matter your stage of life, but it can be easier to spend outside your budget when you don’t have firm parameters.

Zero-based budgeting is for people who want to be very specific.  Your expenses are placed into categories, and every dollar of your income is allocated to a specific category. It’s more work to build a zero-based budget at the start, but because it’s so targeted, it can be very effective for tracking your spending and saving.
 

How to stop overspending

Break down your last three months of expenses, including necessities such as rent, groceries, and gas. Analyzing your spending habits is a good way to understand your priorities and help you cut down on buying things you don’t want or need.

Next, separate your bill money from your spending money. This will help ensure you don’t accidentally miss a bill payment.

Try giving yourself a mini budget, and stick to that daily spending limit. You can withdraw that amount or use a convenient prepaid card. Many on-demand pay systems have features to help people with managing their money. This will remind you to do frequent check-ins on your spending habits.
 

How to manage your debt responsibly

Cutting up a credit card to avoid overspending can seem like a quick answer, but this short-term solution can have a negative impact in the long run. Cancelling a credit card can bring down your credit score. Freezing your credit card can lead to overindulgence once you have access again. Plus, none of these solutions address the real problem, which is spending more than you have.

The only way to stay out of debt is to be a responsible debt holder. This means paying off your credit card before it stars to incur interest and not taking on high-interest loans that can be daunting to pay off.
Here are a few steps for creating a standard plan to pay of your debt:

• List out all your debts
• Avoid missing months by making all minimum payments
• Try paying extra on one debt until it’s paid off
• Move on to the next debt

Psychology Today notes that paying off your smallest debt first can help you gain motivation to take on your larger bills. When people can see the finish line, they work harder to get the job done. Breaking down your debt into smaller, manageable goals is an effective strategy for paying them all off for good.
 

How to save more each month

Start small. It’s easier to make saving a regular habit when it becomes part of your routine. When people work to develop strong savings habits, they lower their desire to freely spend money, according to research from Oxford. This means working on your savings habits can also help reduce impulse spending.

Instead of trying save as much as you can right off the bat, try saving 1-5% from every paycheck. Automate your savings to make it an easy part of your routine that you get accustomed to, and keep it in a separate savings account.

One of the most common mistakes new budgeters make is regularly dipping into their savings account to pay for expenses outside of their budget. Keep your checking and savings separate so you can keep building your savings for a bright financial future.

Be specific. Setting a vague goal like “I want to save more money” isn’t as motivating as a statement like “I want to save one thousand dollars by June 1st.”

Being able to confidently manage your finances allows you to make the choices you want in life. Many people believe that they are bad with money, but everyone is capable of managing their money efficiently and effectively. They just haven’t learned how to manage it yet.

Now is the time to find the right budgeting method for you. You may still be looking for the right ways to save money that work with your lifestyle. Discovering the best path to financial management can help you reduce money stress and achieve better financial wellness.