• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Cult Of Money

Cult Of Money

Personal finance for the crypto-curious.

  • About
  • Podcast
  • Contact
  • Cryptocurrency
      • How To Start

      • What Is Cryptocurrency And How To Invest?
      • What Is Bitcoin And How Does It Work?
      • What Is Ethereum And How Does It Work?
      • Most Common Crypto And NFT Scams (And How To Avoid Them)
      • Proof Of Work vs. Proof Of Stake vs. Proof Of History
      • How To Invest In Crypto In Your IRA Or 401k
      • Tools + Resources

      • Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges
      • Best Cryptocurrency Wallets
      • Best Crypto Savings Accounts
      • Best Tax Software For Crypto And NFT Traders
      • Reviews

      • Coinbase Review
      • Gemini Review
      • BlockFi Review
      • Binance Review
      • Hodlnaut Review
      • Ledger Wallet Review
  • DeFi
      • How To Start

      • What Is DeFi?
      • What Is Staking Your Crypto?
      • Centralized vs. Decentralized Exchange
      • Tools + Resources

      • What Is Uniswap And How Do Decentralized Exchanges Work?
      • Reviews

  • NFT
      • How To Start

      • What Is An NFT?
      • Tools + Resources

      • Most Popular Play-To-Earn Crypto Games
      • Popular Projects

      • What Are VeeFriends And Are They Worth It?
      • Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs Are Popular (And Expensive)
      • What Is The Sandbox And How Can You Play?
      • Why Visa Bought A CryptoPunk
  • Investing
      • How To Start

      • Tools + Accounts

      • Reviews

  • Personal Finance
      • Banking

      • Best Bitcoin Rewards Checking Accounts
      • Tools + Resources

      • Tax

      • Income Tax Prep Guide
      • Bookkeeping And Accounting For Crypto And NFTs
Personal Finance

How to Actually Stick to a Budget

By Alexa Mason • January 20, 2015

At The Cult of Money, we want to help you navigate your finances. To do this, many or all of the products featured here may be from our partners whom we receive compensation from. This doesn’t influence our evaluations or reviews. Our opinions are our own. Learn more here.Advertiser Disclosure

There are thousands of financial products and services out there, and we believe in helping you understand which is best for you, how it works, and will it actually help you achieve your financial goals. We're proud of our content and guidance, and the information we provide is objective, independent, and free.

But we do have to make money to pay our team and keep this website running! Our partners compensate us. CultOfMoney.com has an advertising relationship with some or all of the offers included on this page, which may impact how, where, and in what order products and services may appear. The Cult of Money does not include all companies or offers available in the marketplace. And our partners can never pay us to guarantee favorable reviews (or even pay for a review of their product to begin with).

For more information and a complete list of our advertising partners, please check out our full Advertising Disclosure. CultOfMoney.com strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. The information in our reviews could be different from what you find when visiting a financial institution, service provider or a specific product's website. All products and services are presented without warranty.

Do you have trouble actually sticking to your budget? Here are some tips that really work!The month is more than half way over and I’m feeling great about the progress I’ve made. While I normally do in-my-head budgeting I decided to switch things up and instead create a written budget this month.

I’ve also once again tracked my expenses down to the penny. Although this time around has been so much easier than the last.

Here are the things that have helped me to stick my written budget this month.

Set a Realistic Budget From The Beginning

Sometimes you can get a little overly ambitious, thinking you’re going to spend a third of what you normally do. I’ve done it. I’m sure you have, too.

That’s usually the biggest culprit to budgeting failures.

You need to be realistic from the get-go. If you know you’re going to spend $3,000 on basic living expenses this month don’t budget $2,000.

You can definitely make your budget a challenge but it needs to be realistic.

Determine What System Works Best for You

The last time I tracked my expenses for an entire month I used an Excel spreadsheet. It was a total pain. There were some evenings where the last thing I wanted to do was open up my computer. So, this time I decided to make a change.

I printed out several expense tracking sheets along with a budget sheet and sat them on my kitchen table. Since I live in a small home and am constantly in the kitchen, they’re pretty hard to miss. I mean, how I can I not fill out these sheets that are staring right at me?

Determine what system works for you and stick with it. Don’t try to force yourself to do something that doesn’t come naturally.

Create a Habit of Reviewing Your Spending

Since my expense tracker and budget sheets are on my kitchen table I look at them literally every day. This entire month I have known how good (or bad) I am doing when it comes to spending.

While you don’t necessarily have to review your finances every day you should do it at least once per week. You’ll then know what sort of changes you need to make to stay on track.

Post Your Goals in a Conspicuous Place

When you just don’t feel like properly managing your money, review your goals. This has been instrumental for me!

Since I have a big goal this year of saving money for a down payment on a home I’m constantly thinking – do I want to spend $20 for pizza or do I want to save $20 for a house? And when I’m really feeling tempted to spend money I shouldn’t be I check the local real estate listings for an added bit of motivation!

Realize It’s All About Trade-Offs

If you created a budget you did it for a reason. That could be to pay down debt, invest more, or save for a large purchase. Think of the reason behind the budget.

If you have a strong enough goal then making those little trade-offs like not buying new clothes, skipping drinks at the bar, and warding off impulse purchases will become easy.

What tips do you have for sticking to a budget?

Alexa Mason
Alexa Mason

Alexa Mason is a freelance writer and wanna be internet entrepreneur. She is also a newly single mom to two beautiful little girls. She chronicles her journey as a single mom trying to make it big at www.singlemomsincome.com.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, or other advertiser and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Comment Policy: We invite readers to respond with questions or comments. Comments may be held for moderation and are subject to approval. Comments are solely the opinions of their authors’. The responses in the comments below are not provided or commissioned by any advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any company. It is not anyone’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Editor’s Picks

  • 8 best cryptocurrency exchanges ranked

    8 Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges Ranked For 2023

  • crypto savings accounts

    6 Best Crypto Savings Accounts For 2023

  • Cryptocurrency Bonus Offers

    10 Best Crypto Promotional And Bonus Offers

  • best crypto wallets

    Best Crypto Wallets For 2023 (Software And Hardware Options)

  • Best Portfolio Trackers For Cryptocurrency And Stocks

    6 Best Portfolio Trackers For Cryptocurrency And Stocks

  • best tax software for crypto and NFT traders

    Best Tax Software For Crypto And NFT Traders In 2023

Popular Posts

  • proof of work vs. proof of stake vs. proof of history

    Proof Of Work vs. Proof Of Stake vs. Proof Of History

  • Why I Bought An NFT

    Why I Bought An NFT [And 5 Reasons You Should Too]

  • My Dogecoin Experiment: What I Learned From Investing $2,000 In DOGE

  • common crypto and nft scams

    Most Common Crypto And NFT Scams (And How To Avoid Them)

  • Bookkeeping and Accounting for Crypto and NFTs

    Bookkeeping And Accounting For Crypto And NFTs

  • what is a 51% attack

    What Is A 51% Attack? (And How Is That Game Over For Crypto?)

  • what is staking crypto

    What Is Staking And How Can You Make Money With Your Crypto?

  • what are veefriends

    What Are VeeFriends And Are They Worth It?

  • how to file a complaint against crypto exchanges

    How To File A Complaint Against A Crypto Exchange [Crypto Regulators]

Footer

Pages

  • Best Cryptocurrency Wallets
  • Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges

Categories

  • Cryptocurrency
  • DeFi
  • NFT
  • Personal Finance

About

  • About The Cult Of Money
  • Contact
  • How We Make Money
  • Advertise With Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 | Cult of Money | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service