How to Stick to Your Budget

A budget should be a reflection of your life.

Think of it as a cozy, well-maintained house for your money—the kind with paint colors Joanna Gaines would love and furniture made by the hottest new designers. In this case, you’re the designer, so you decide where your money goes each month.

That means if you want to shop a big sale or go out to eat more often, no problem. Just arrange it in your budget first. And if you want to save for a new couch or put money toward debt, that’s fantastic! Dedicate some space for it.

The trouble comes when you start overspending in your restaurant budget then “sneak” money from your sofa savings to pay for your fast food cravings. Remember, your budget isn’t open concept; it has separate rooms for a reason.

Let’s discuss some simple housekeeping tips for a beautifully balanced budget.

How to Budget for a Home Remodel

With the popularity of Instagram, Pinterest, and our good friends Chip and Joanna, a big home remodel is pretty much always on our minds.

Of course, there’s a big difference between thinking and doing. Want to know what lies in the gap? Your budget. You can use your budget to plan, save, and make your home improvement dreams a reality. We’ll show you how!

What's Your Budgeting Why

Budgeting works best when you’re in it for the long haul.

For example, it’s awesome if you saved an extra $100 this month. Now you can buy a nice pair of shoes or snag a sitter to enjoy an evening out with your spouse. But if you save an extra $100 every month for a year, you can knock out some serious credit card debt, put more money toward a new home, or go on a weekend getaway with your family!

Staying committed over the long haul is difficult. That’s why we all need to have our budgeting why at the ready. Your why is the reason you made a budgeting plan in the first place. Today we’ll talk about how you can find yours.

What Type of Vacation Is Right for You (and Your Budget)?

Everybody needs a little time away, right?

Whether you’re flat broke or rolling in the Benjamins, sometimes you just need a little breather.

With summer on the way, you’re probably thinking about vacation options: Where do you want to go? How long can you stay there? And, oh yeah, how are you going to pay for it in the first place?

Smart questions to ask, right? So let’s take a look at what vacation you might be able to afford based on your budget:

4 Ways to Keep Summer Spending in Check

Sunny weather. Vacation planning. Cookouts, swimming pools and fireworks.

Are you excited for summer yet?

It’s easy to check out during the summer months. That’s what happens when the kids are out of school, the pool is calling your name, and everyone is talking about vacations. Just don’t be so relaxed with your budget that your money starts melting like ice cream in the hot sun.  

When you’re in relax mode, it’s easy to spend a little extra here and there until, suddenly, you discover that little extra spending adds up to a lot and your money is gone. But there’s good news: If you give yourself a few extra minutes to plan your budget, you’ll be good to chill all summer long.

Here are some tips for keeping control of your cash this summer.