Once you start a family, you settle down and start taking stock of finances more accurately. Especially for a household family budgeting and having a financial roadmap are essential for financial stability. The good news is that setting up a family budget and sticking to it isn’t difficult. In this article, we’ll give you tips on how to set up a family budget. 

Keep Track Your Family’s Monthly Income And Expenses

Keeping a family budget is the foundation of every family’s financial discipline. A financial plan is necessary to control income and expenses, thanks to which you can not only save, but also multiply your money, and protect yourself from financial uncertainties in the future. Make it a habit to record all your income and expenses daily. Use special apps or spreadsheets that will help you control your expenses and properly allocate your family budget. It is convenient to make a plan in the form of a table. 

Each column will denote the month and the column with the name of the category. The rows show income and expenses, which are divided into major categories. When entering income into the table, stick to the actual paycheck schedule. In expenses, we distinguish mandatory, optional, and extraordinary expenses. When the table is ready, you can begin to estimate the budget. The balance at the end of the current month is the balance at the beginning of the next month. Make sure that expenses match income. You can also keep a simplified spreadsheet with two main columns: income and expense. 

Find The Family Budgeting System That Works For Your Family

Fortunately, there are hundreds of different family budgeting methods available. You should try one after another until you find what works for you specifically. One of the most popular budgeting systems is the 50-30-20 budgeting system. It is perfect for financially stable families. You should spend 50% of your income on living expenses (rent, groceries, repayment of loans, etc.), 30% on your personal needs (entertainment, buying clothes/gadgets, gambling at Vave Casino, etc.), and save the rest 20%. Of course, each family can adjust this system to their expenses and income. However, always take into account that the budgeting system has to reflect all your family’s needs and goals. 

Set Short-Term, Middle-Term, And Long Term Financial Goals

Financial goals should have specific realistic deadlines. You should be clear about how much and when you will save for each goal. You should realize which of the goals are prioritized. And you should also be sure that this goal is really important to your family. A financial plan will help you track your progress toward your goal and motivate you. 

Choose The Format For Your Family Budget 

It can be an Excel spreadsheet or a financial app. Go through the formats until you are comfortable keeping a daily budget. There are many different templates based on Excel spreadsheets. You can download them on the official website. The principle of using them is quite simple: Enter data into the cells, and the table will automatically calculate the budget. There are also many financial apps. The working principle of such applications is similar, but they differ in appearance. In any case, you will have to enter income, and expenses, add checks, and categorize it all. 

Pay Off Family Debts

Try to pay off your debts and close your loans as soon as possible. This doesn’t mean that you can’t take out loans, but if you want to start saving seriously, it’s better to start living within your means. Open a deposit in the bank and save small amounts steadily, if you are afraid that you will spend it.

Create A Safety Net

An emergency fund for your family should consist of at least 3-6 months of expenses, or better yet, your annual budget. A safety net is an accumulated amount of savings with which your family can live for a certain period in case you lose your main source of income. Having an emergency fund will help you gain confidence in the future. 

Analyze The Information

Categorize your expenditures, distinguish permanent unchangeable expenses (rent, credit, etc.), calculate how much you spend on food and whether it corresponds to the quality of your diet, and think about where you can save money.  If a significant part of your budget is spent on restaurants and going out with friends, think about whether it’s that important to you.

If you fail, start again! Use a different principle, a different format, and a different kind of budget. There is always some other option you haven’t tried. Remember that setting up a budget is one of the hardest tasks for most people trying to get their finances in order.