It's your money and you can spend it any way you like, but if you want have a good time and still make your monthly rent payment, you need a budget. Whether you are on your own or have a partner, keep your financial planning lighthearted. Learning to manage your money is an important life skill. Master it by finding ways to enjoy the process.
Step 1
Set up a reward system that motivates you to successfully balance your budget each month. After you plan the budget, think of something fun to serve as a reward when you meet your spending goals; just don't choose a reward that eats up a large chunk of the savings you generate. Treat yourself and your partner to dinner out and a movie after successfully balancing your budget at the end of the month or give yourself a cash reward equivalent to 10 percent of any savings you generate.
Step 2
Play a game with your partner or friends where you set goals that contribute towards the success of your budget. List several mini targets using your budget as a basis. Award points to a participant each time a target is met. Crediting 1 point to the participant who spends the least cash daily, a point to whoever saves the most using coupons each week and a point whenever you eat in instead of dining out, for example. The participant who earns the most points at the end of the month wins the game and a predetermined prize from the other participants.
Step 3
Find friends who share common interests when it comes to budgets. Share ideas and ways to achieve or improve your respective budgets. Set budget goals together with your friends and check on each others progress often. Chat about ways you can save money and encourage one another to exert more effort towards meeting target figures. Talk about how you managed your budgets and learn from each others' experiences. Having friends with the same interests makes you feel that you are not alone in your endeavor. Going through the budget process with a buddy or with a support group is more fun than doing it alone.
Step 4
Read online budgeting blogs. Reading blogs can help you become more knowledgeable about budgeting and can be entertaining at the same time. Budgeting blogs dish out plenty of savvy budgeting tips and can introduce you to new budgeting techniques that will help you become more creative. Becoming more knowledgeable about budgeting can increase your confidence and build your self-esteem, making budgeting easier and more enjoyable for you.
References
Writer Bio
Raul Avenir has been writing for various websites since 2009, authoring numerous articles concentrated on business and technology. He is a technically inclined businessman experienced in construction and real estate development. Aside from being an accountant, Avenir is also a business consultant. He graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in business administration.