Focused Friday Post 6-Budgeting For Month End

by | Oct 26, 2018

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.

 

The end of the month is coming and it’s a great time to get your budget ready for the start of the new month.

 

FOCUS FOR THIS FRIDAY: BUDGETING

 

I think this is a great time to start planning your budget for the holiday season. My family celebrates Christmas so I will be talking about Christmas spending.

 

My family also is a big advocate for Dave Ramsey and his financial principles. Just a little background story: during my engagement, my husband and I went through the 9 week Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class. It was life changing in so many ways. I highly recommend it. If you want to buy the kit you can purchase it HERE and then later take a look at daveramsey.com to sign up for a class near you.

 

BACK TO BUDGETING!!!

 

Since the month is nearing an end, it’s always recommended to plan your budget for next month in advance. Today’s Focused Friday challenge is to encourage you to sit down for at least 15 minutes and plan out a simple budget for the month of November.

 

My recommendation is to use the EVERYDOLLAR app by Dave Ramsey in order to create a simple yet effective budget to help manage your finances every month.

 

I highly recommend this VIDEO to help you learn how to use the app. Dave Ramsey’s daughter, Rachel Cruze, is featured on the video.

 

Now that you have a budget in place, make sure you have a category for Gift Giving or Christmas Spending. The best way to avoid debt during the holidays is to plan ahead and save up money in advance before actually spending it. What amount of money do you have saved up for the holidays? How much do you want to spend this year?

 

If you already have a budget working and in place for your family, that’s great! I would encourage you to take a step further in planning for the holidays. Maybe take the time to write down all the people you plan on buying gifts for. Next to each name write down the amount of money you want to spend on each person.

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Total it all up and see what amount you get. MOMENT OF TRUTH!!! Is it a really high number? If it was higher than you expected you can do two things:

 

1. Take the time to go through the list again and maybe adjust some numbers to be a little less. Maybe take $5 or $10 off each person for example.
2. If you have your heart set on the exact amount of money you want to spend on each person, then let’s find a way you can save that money in the next two months so that you don’t go into debt during the holidays. Can you sell some items in your home? Can you work a few extra hours?

 

If you are married, I would encourage you to take the budget and discuss it with your spouse this weekend. Focus on coming up with a plan together. Get prepared now so that you are not in shock when you look at your bank account at the end of the year.

 

WAIT, THIS ISN’T A FINANCIAL BLOG!

 

I know this is not a financial blog in any way, but budgeting is sort of like another hobby of mine. Sounds somewhat weird, I know, since my blog is about moms and fitness, but I really do enjoy the math and the spreadsheets involved with getting my household finances in order!

 

I have listened to over 100 of Dave Ramsey’s radio episodes and my husband and I called in to be on the show to do a debt free scream! My husband has even met Dave Ramsey personally. Like I said, we are big fans.

 

If you ever have financial questions, budgeting questions, need advice in a particular way to make a big money decision, I would love to help. Questions and comments are welcomed below. I have been practicing Dave Ramsey’s principles since 2008 and my husband and I have been teaching Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University class as coordinators since 2013. I love helping others getting their finances in order!

Keep Smiling,

Dr. Jena Bradley, DPT

 

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.

 

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Please leave a positive and uplifting comment or ask a question. I am here to help! After I read and approve your comment, it will appear. Thanks for joining me and I look forward to hearing from you!
-Jena

4 Comments

  1. Nancy Grote
    Nancy Grote on October 26, 2018 at 8:01 am

    You should do a post about teaching children about money and saving and also the Dave Ramsey’s kit for kids.

    Reply
    • Jena Bradley
      Jena Bradley on October 26, 2018 at 12:37 pm

      Will do, planning on writing about all those topics in the near future. Thanks for the ideas.

      Reply
  2. Becky V
    Becky V on November 3, 2018 at 12:27 am

    I really appreciated this post Jena! Bob and I did work out a Christmas budget in October (I’m taking a page out of your planning guidance) and I’m so glad we did because I am enjoying the creativity of staying within our budget boundaries and feeling so accomplished with finding just the right gifts, house decor, or other items related to celebrating the Christmas season. The ability for both of us to see real time through an app of what we are spending ensures we stay aligned to our agreed upon budget. Thank you for your insights! We have appreciated the helpful advice you and your husband have shared from the Dave Ramsey principles – they definitely work!

    Reply
    • Jena Bradley
      Jena Bradley on January 21, 2019 at 3:21 pm

      Becky, I am so glad I could help you and give you the right tools that will ultimately make it easier for you to be good stewards with your money! You’re doing great!

      Reply

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