Simply, a budget is a personal lifestyle Global Positioning System
(GPS)--a tool to guide decisions to move living standard from point 'A'
to 'B' wisely. As with a GPS, we start where we are and then travel to
defined destinations. If we do not use correct starting and ending
points, we will be lost.
The
budget begins with the current financial condition and 'maps' how' to
reach specific goals in a defined future period. The charted course is
filled with huge challenges because seldom do we have enough funds to do
all 'needed' priorities.
Budgeting is about choosing; it's
deciding between competing priorities. Choosing what to do and what to
defer is a continuing irritant. Today, the United States must decide
between lowering its debt, maintaining its military capability, and
sustaining entitlement programs, among other things. It can't do all,
although politicians tell us that's possible.
Households face
difficult selections, too. In my experience, these three are the biggest
dilemmas to overcome as many folks prepare household budgets; each
affects lifestyles.
-
Accumulating a reasonable deposit to buy a home
-
Saving systematically to buy the next car for cash
-
Setting aside time regularly to apply a pre-spending decision procedure, and monitoring performance against budget
Accumulating A Reasonable Deposit To Buy A Home
The
first dilemma for many households is how to live within fixed incomes,
pay rent, and simultaneously accumulate a reasonable, 20-25% deposit, to
buy a home. The temptation to buy a home with a lower down payment is
great; particularly because the rent might be below current mortgage
rates.
We need discipline to overcome this. The householder must
sacrifice the short-term for the longer term. To save a 20-25% down
payment, he or she must sacrifice grown-up toys, eating out, buying
gifts, cable TV, among other items. However, these sacrifices will
contribute significantly to eliminate debt, stop interest payments,
lower monetary stress, and a more stable financial position.
Saving Systematically To Buy The Next Car For Cash
The
second dilemma to overcome while budgeting deals with a car. How do we
stop making car payments as we provide for daily needs? We must
recognize that where we live and where we work can affect our transport
needs materially. We can carpool, live close to work, or live where we
have access to good public transit. Besides, we should distinguish
between weekdays and weekends. We could rely on carpooling or public
transport during the week, and on a rented vehicle some weekends.
During
this period, we need to identify a monthly sustainable car payment to
pay to us. When the time is right and funds are available, we buy the
car; however, we would continue paying us, so we buy the next car for
cash.
Setting Aside Time Regularly To Apply A Pre-Spending Decision Procedure
The
third dilemma deals specifically with key behaviors that affect
spending directly. First, despite many daily priorities we need to
invest time to use a formal pre-spending decision procedure
consistently; it's behavior which drives spending. Second, though it
will add to things to do, we must monitor actual against budgeted
spending, regularly.
Surely, the constant cry will be, "I don't
have time." Nevertheless, as we know, we have 24 hours daily; therefore,
the issue is, how badly do we want to be free from continuing financial
stress and become debt free?
As with most goals, overcoming these
dilemmas needs discipline. The journey might be long but the benefits
are great: debt freedom, financial stress freedom, and healthy family
relationships. Are you ready to overcome these dilemmas and start
budgeting?
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