Budget – There it is. That dreaded word. Feel that twist in your gut? Do not push it away. Ask yourself where it comes from. Understand it. Do not judge it.
Why We Hate Budgeting
Many people dread budgets the way they dread the dentist. I think I know why. It’s about wanting – wanting things now, wanting what others have that they don’t have, and a budget gets in the way. It means waiting, delayed gratification and many of us aren’t good at that. We tell ourselves we’ll do better tomorrow, “I’ll start on Monday.” …. “New year, new me.” Sound familiar?
Spending and having something new feels good. Keeping a budget? not so much. Buying something today feels real because it’s in your hands. Saving for tomorrow? You might not feel like you got something out of it. Here’s the thing: there are many people who know we like to spend and want stuff now. They are smart people that work for companies that want your money. They make it so easy to spend money you don’t have. One-click purchases. A monthly subscription that “save you money” and a subscription to track your subscriptions. Ten dollars here, thirty dollars there. These add-up, and your money is gone before you know it.
When Life Won’t Stand Still
Many people don’t know what they’ll earn next month. Fifty-five percent of Americans see their income swing by thirty percent month to month[1]. How do you budget a moving target. You can’t. Budgeting is easy with a steady income and predictable expenses. But that’s not the reality for many of us. Life happens filled with inconveniences. The car breaks down. Surprise medical bill. You lose your job. It’s a four-week month. The budget doesn’t hold up. But the credit card is right there, ready and waiting.
What Actually Matters
Here’s the truth: Budgeting isn’t about being perfect. It’s about knowing yourself, working with yourself, not against yourself. It’s about using a system that work for you. Learning from money mistake, not treat it as a failure its better understanding you now have knowledge of the cause. The goal isn’t to manage money better. Money isn’t the measure. Freedom, peace of mind is the measure, not to be driven by impulse and the external things that cause them, being self-determined, maximizing your power.
That feeling of dread in your gut when you hear the word “budget”. Understand it and take control. Then go around it. Over it. Under it. Through it. Act right. It’s the start of self-determination. Keep the keys.
These are the good days.
[1] www.jpmorganchase.com/corporate/institute/document/jpmc-institute-volatility-2-report-pdf
