5 Things You Might Be Forgetting To Budget Every Month

By Michelle Wanjiku
“I won’t break my budget or spend more than I have planned only to end up doing the exact opposite.” If this sounds like you and you regularly find yourself going over budget, then you should definitely read this.
It doesn’t matter where you are in your financial journey, every once in a while you are bound to find yourself breaking your budget. This usually happens because you failed to budget for things that you end up needing.
So the best way to prevent yourself from always busting your budget is to include these five things in your monthly budget plan.
1. Saving
Are you one of those people who save what is left over after spending your money? If yes, then this is a habit you need to get rid of.
Saving is like paying yourself, so you need to ensure you do this first before spending any money you earn.
This means that you need to have a plan and budget for exactly how much you are going to save every month.
You should not treat saving like something you do only when you have some money left over. It should be something you have to do after every payday and this will ensue that you have a good financial future.
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2. Personal Pocket Money
Let’s be honest, once in a while, you might want to treat yourself or buy something that you had not budgeted for but you really need.
This is where pocket money comes in; every month you need to set aside money for the small things that are a treat or a need.
This will ensure that even if you want to go on an unplanned dinner with a friend you haven’t seen in a long time, you are able to do so without actually going over your budget and affecting your finances.
Miscellaneous Money
You cannot know what will happen in a month; this is why you need to budget for any random thing that happens.
For example, your child could need money for a trip you were not expecting, or you might need to contribute for a funeral or something like that.
Having this miscellaneous fund will prevent you from breaking your budget because you have the extra cash to put into these things.
Not only that but if you don’t actually end up using this funds, they can always go into your emergency fund at the end of the month.
Sinking Funds
A sinking fund is just money you save for an event that you anticipate happening in the future. This could be different for everybody depending on what you foresee happening, for example, it could be your travel funds, maybe your fridge will need replacing in a few months or you want to change your seats.
No matter what it is for, this fund will ensure that when the time comes to actually fix or buy these things, you don’t spend all of that month’s salary.
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Take for example, if you know you will have to buy a new phone, why not start saving for it even before you the one you currently have dies for good. If you save 1K every month by the time you have to buy the phone, it won’t mess with your budget and leave you completely broke.
Giving
How many times to you give money to beggars or donate to children homes? If your answer is often then you might need to add this to your budget.
If you are really into giving to the less fortunate, the best way to go about it so that it doesn’t negatively affect your financial stability, is to add it to your monthly budget.
This will give you the ability to give more often and not have to worry about not having enough left for you.
In Conclusion,
When it comes to money you need to make smart informed decisions, this is why having a budget is actually very important. It will keep you from wasting your money and enable you to do a lot more with what you are earning.
Add these five things to your budget to avoid always going over your budget every single month.
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What are some other ways you can avoid going over your budget? Share them in the comment section
The writer is a Communication Officer/Digital marketer at Career Point Kenya. Email: michelle@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke