3 fool-proof budgets that can work for anyone

When it comes time to sit down and actually create a budget, these are the steps you can generally take to make a monthly plan for your money.

[{"selector":"#anim-ef9828fe-c913-45a5-b5db-264e1cf22181","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d489b429-82a2-4be3-a7da-d5838b79f442","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

The key to knowing what you can do with your money each month stems from knowing just how much income you have coming in.

[{"selector":"#anim-0a9044fd-9666-42d4-8a0e-c87ad522c9db","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-661c45dd-e0c9-479f-b0d0-6928c0cd97ed","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

Write down ongoing necessary expenses

[{"selector":"#anim-dd626d07-aa67-4df8-945e-2e52d2723cfd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-58bab91b-a285-4eca-9269-7f71bee2c856","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Medium Brush Stroke Learn more

Take a cold, hard look at unnecessary spending

[{"selector":"#anim-fb07e5fe-aa43-47e6-9999-5552eef64cf9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9560689b-a344-485e-9d2c-b19e862ad461","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

It’s a good idea to think about how some of that money can make accomplishing financial goals like paying off debt or saving for retirement easier.

[{"selector":"#anim-d926a158-e7e5-490b-b7bc-736980991fbf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c870bc97-0c3b-49ed-a3f0-b7d6fe7d1c99","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Medium Brush Stroke Learn more

SWIPE UP NOW TO READ MORE!

[{"selector":"#anim-9218f44b-027f-4413-8896-2921941e97fa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2ae4af40-0703-4763-a300-794713dbb4c0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free quiz matches you with fiduciary financial advisors in your area or who serve your area. If you are ready to be matched with financial advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, take the quiz now.

[{"selector":"#anim-473b5cec-6545-4727-917b-026c267679f0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c2489a32-742a-4c62-9f73-c45286bb627c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-941b5c88-e307-4c17-ae18-e7ca0fdb7b2a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 99.16371%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fee040a2-a171-4607-9522-d44d2bb2b64b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 3 smart reasons to use an HSA for retirement Death of a spouse: 11 financial steps to take as soon as you can

3 fool-proof budgets that can work for anyone

When it comes time to sit down and actually create a budget, these are the steps you can generally take to make a monthly plan for your money.

The key to knowing what you can do with your money each month stems from knowing just how much income you have coming in.

Identify all sources of income

Write down ongoing necessary expenses

The necessary ongoing expenses such as rent, car payment, and groceries are what need to be written down first.

Take a cold, hard look at unnecessary spending

See what expenses can be cut to determine how much money needs to be set aside for unnecessary expenses.

It’s a good idea to think about how some of that money can make accomplishing financial goals like paying off debt or saving for retirement easier.

Set financial goals and rework the budget

SWIPE UP NOW TO READ MORE!

Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free quiz matches you with fiduciary financial advisors in your area or who serve your area. If you are ready to be matched with financial advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, take the quiz now.

READ MORE