Everyone needs a plan to get through these days, and ‘budget’ doesn’t have to be a dirty word. It’s just a simple plan showing what money we expect to receive and how we expect to spend it. It's a way of steering our money and staying in control. A budget is one of the best tools for getting the most out of our money and getting ahead.
Everyone can benefit from a budget – not just people who are having trouble making ends meet. It can mean the difference between feeling in control and being able to plan ahead, versus always wondering where our money went and going into overdraft between paydays.
Spending less than is coming in? We can use a budget to work out how much can be squirrelled away each payday. We call this ‘paying ourselves first.’
Spending more than is coming in? We can use a budget to see where that extra money is going. We can also see if there are any ways to spend less or earn more.
A good budget makes managing money and reaching financial goals more of a certainty.
The Mawby family makes sure their money goes a long way.
To create a budget, we simply add up how much money is coming into the household (our income), and how much is going out (our spending), then work out the difference.
The result is either money left over (a surplus) or not enough money to cover our spending (a deficit). The aim is to get a surplus so we have some money left in our pockets to save for our goals or pay off debt faster.
Making a budget is easy with the Sorted budgeting tool!
A budget needs to be accurate or it won’t work. We can’t fudge it! Here’s what you’ll need.
Need help with making a budget or making ends meet? Reach out to MoneyTalks on 0800 345 123 for personalised help.
After setting a budget it’s important to see how it’s working in reality. Try a spending diary or use an online tool or smartphone app. Then you can adjust the budget as needed.
Budgeting isn’t just about watching our spending. How much we earn also affects whether we have money left over for saving or paying off debt.
If our income doesn't grow, we’ll effectively earn less each year just because of inflation. So part of our plan needs to include goals for growing income, too.
Online job sites and salary survey reports will show what someone in your position with the same experience and skills should be worth. You can also contact recruitment agencies to find out what similar roles are currently paying.
The Careers New Zealand website has broad salary information for different types of jobs.
GUIDE
Finding out we’ve got a little bundle of joy on the way is an exciting milestone! A new arrival is...
GUIDE
Simply put, net worth is the difference between the value of what we own and the total amount that we...
GUIDE
Here’s the first step to sorting our finances: working out where we want to be moneywise and what our priorities...
GUIDE
Budgets help us plan where our money should be going, but it’s also important to track where our money actually...
GUIDE
Sharing a flat is a big step towards being independent, but it also means we have to get used to...
GUIDE
Studying can be an investment in our future. Interest-free student loans seem like easy money, but borrowing too much could...