Does Anybody Else NOT Budget?

**AmyBoz** · 07-19-2009, 06:04 PM

So, I'm wondering if I am the sole villager who doesn't actually have a "budget" per se. It's not that we don't think ahead, but we don't say "We'll need this much for this and that much for that" and then put money aside or away, or even write it down on paper.

We don't spend beyond our means, so we aren't in danger of bouncing checks or going broke. However, writing a budget just isn't my "thing," so to speak.

Anyone else not have a budget? (I'm thinking I may be alone on this one.)

**frugalfranny** · 07-19-2009, 06:31 PM

I have changed my 'money system' many times over the years. Guess it depends on what the bills are and what you have going on in your life.

I don't 'write down' a budget right now. I list out my bills and a 'guesstimate' on what they will be. Total it up and that is that. Once I see that list it stays with me for whatever else I decide to spend. I know when the major things are coming due....car ins. and prop. taxes, but don't have to write them down. That is now..........

For years I budgeted every penny (literally kept a list in my wallet!) but it was so I could take time off each year and travel. Had to have the serious discipline if I wanted to do that. Before that, I budgeted very seriously but that was for 'survival' and to make sure the bills got paid and I had food on the table, as I was a single mother.

So...to answer.....no I don't 'really budget' now but I have.

**NewLeaf** · 07-19-2009, 07:01 PM

My husband takes care of all of the bills. Whatever is leftover after paying bills every 2 weeks is what we "semi" budget with. I take a certain amount for groceries and household and the rest is for gas, school lunches, clothing etc. My husband has been very resistant to an actual budget so this past January I kept track of just our grocery & household spending to show him what we spent. Then I started a budget for that to try to show him it can be done. We also save for vacation ea. year.

I also talked dh into trying the "snowball" method of paying off some of our credit cards and bills. He was amazingly agreeable and seems really happy with the outcome!!!

I started making homemade laundry det. to show him the savings. He recently told me he was really proud of me for all of my efforts. I think he might be on the bandwagon now!!!

**frugalfranny** · 07-19-2009, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by NewLeaf

He recently told me he was really proud of me for all of my efforts. I think he might be on the bandwagon now!!!

Congrats newleaf........and don't let that band quit playing!!!

**Sassyclass** · 07-19-2009, 08:30 PM

Other than those little surprise bills like doctor/dentist, I pretty much know what we will need to pay bills. We both get paid the same week every 2 weeks. I have a notebook that I use to write what has to be paid out of that weeks checks. My husband can get his pay amount on Tuesday nights through his company's website so I also know how much money we will have extra to slam cc's or put in savings. My check is pretty much the same every pay.

Cat

**McD** · 07-19-2009, 09:16 PM

We don't really either. Have tried several times but have always failed miserably. We each get paid every two weeks and we know what bills need to be paid with what checks.

**FrugalMomof3** · 07-19-2009, 09:17 PM

I used to budget but now I dont. It's not that we couldnt stick to it, but more like I am the walking bank register... I know how much we have, what has to get paid and always how much is left. We spend within our means and it's comfortable for us and it works.

**Domestic Gal** · 07-19-2009, 09:26 PM

We do not have a written budget at all either.
Dh gets paid every week and any bills that came in get paid the week they come in.
15% is taken out and put into saving for retirerment before anything gets paid.
Any overtime pay is put into a freedom account and used for home improvements.
$40 a week is put into another fund for any medical bills not covered by insurance (co pays, glasses orthodontists)
$40 week is put into an account for car repairs.
DH has lots of accounts for different things.
Any monies leftover over $500 (he keeps a $500 cushion in his checking account) get put into a regular savings account for house taxes and such.
I work for the school district and only work 4 hours a day and only get a check from Sept. to June. So I try and save 50% of my checks.
It does make a difference when you are debt free though.
DH is as frugal as I am so we work well together. We live well below our means but not so low that we do not enjoy ourselves.

**pip** · 07-19-2009, 09:33 PM

Nope, you are not alone. We talk about the big purchases before they are purchased, and are pretty good about living within our means. My husband likes to spend a bit more than me and that has been more of a challenge lately since he has been between jobs, but so far so good.

**madhen** · 07-19-2009, 09:37 PM

I have recently started trying to budget for specific areas that tend to get out of control (i.e, groceries), but for the most part, I don't have any system, per se. I pay the bills and try to use what is left responsibly. Right now, I am paying back credit debt from when I DIDN'T use it responsibly!

**baxjul** · 07-19-2009, 10:29 PM

We don't have a strict budget either. DH gets paid every week. Every week I pay the bills that came in that week. Some of the leftover goes into the savings for the week that the house payment is due. I've tried to budget, but I'm horrible at it.

**craftypam** · 07-19-2009, 10:33 PM

When my dh got paid every week or every other week I budgeted everything. Since he went into business for himself he gets paid when the job gets done; so it is impossible to have an actual budget.

**LastDragonfly** · 07-20-2009, 12:21 AM

We did several years ago, however, the less debt we have the less we write down, we just "know" what we can or can't do...

**Palooka** · 07-20-2009, 01:12 AM

No strict budget here and I pretty much know what I need for the bills and groceries. When the bills come in, I hit submit on the net, banking on line keeps tract of our checkbook/debits and I shop with a number in my head for groceries, but not some money envelope that I have to stick too. If I feel like I spent too much in one area, I can always cut back in another.

**xtena** · 07-20-2009, 01:52 AM

I track expenditures and when spending in certain areas (food and fun) gets a bit out of hand, I figure it's time to cut back. However I do not budget per se. We have no debt and decent incomes (considering the state of the economy, though we both made a lot less last year than the year before), and always save a set amount each month. I've been telling myself for several months that I should set up a budget, but I just haven't found the motivation.