Comments on: Why Traditional Budgets Don’t Work: Wiser Actions You Can Take Instead Of Filling Out A Budget Form

By: Steve in W MA

Steve in W MA — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 02:25:58 +0000

Not sure what you mean by “traditional budgeting” Maybe they didn’t work for you becuase you weren’t actually doing a traditional budget. Traditional budgeting has always worked for me.

Traditional budgeting means: 1) tracking your expenses 2) categorizing them 3) comparing them to your income and setting spending guidelines for each category for the month) and 4) –the part you are talking about in your post–coming up with strategies to reduce expenses in areas where you decide it is necessary. 5) comparing your end monthly figures with your orignal plan and 6) adjusting the budget, or your spending habits, to more closely match what you want to happen when you make out the next month’s budget.

Rinse and repeat once a month, and update your budget totals weekly.

That’s traditional budgeting, and it works.

By: A in NC

A in NC — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:37:47 +0000

Great ideas. I tried the shopping once a month and it is true that you will get very creative with your cooking AND clean out your pantry and freezer (which we should all be doing). But now I do shopping once a week. We have our family of 3 down to $50-60 per week. we are really proud of it but it took practice. I’d suggest not cutting your budget as low as ours to start. But still I wind up with more food left than I thought at the end of the week!
Bonus-we have all lost weight!

By: w

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 23:55:39 +0000

Any thoughts about how to budget when your income goes up and down each month? Some months we get zero income (it is a long story) and other months we actually do get paid. thanks.

By: Rob in Madrid

Rob in Madrid — Wed, 16 May 2007 19:25:22 +0000

My wife and I are just doing that, took us a bit of planning but this will be the first (and hopefully the beginning) month of no credit cards. I am also changing my shopping routines to do the basics at discounts and then pick up anything else i need after. A friend commented about how she only shops once per month and by the end of the month she has to get creative on what she cooks. We are going to start doing that not only will it save money but time not having to run to the store 3 or 4 times a week. Of course when the pantry runs low it will be a challenge not to shop early

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 19:39:32 +0000

The thing my wife and I constantly remind ourselves is the difference between want and need. This doesn’t mean we constantly think about it or go crazy by it, but it is useful to remind yourselves the difference.

By: Ray Dotson

Ray Dotson — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:08:25 +0000

Great post! I hope you don’t mind that I’ve linked to this post and added my own comments on my blog. I agree that people should look to much simpler ways to begin things like budgeting instead of trying to jump right into a really restrictive lifestyle. Of course, this should be done before things get way out of control…

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 19:36:00 +0000

Good advice. I have a problem with buying stuff on eBay, so I try to stay away from it completely. I just don’t go there, that way I don’t see all the cool things I need to buy. Ignorance is bliss.