Episode 8 – 5 Steps of a Zero Based Budget
Saving money isn’t a matter of math—it’s a matter of priorities. We often tell ourselves we’ll start saving once we reach a certain milestone, like when we get a raise, we pay off the car, or the kids move out.
But without healthy money habits, you won’t save money when you get that salary bump, when you own your car, or even when the kids are grown.
You’ll only start saving money when you develop healthy money habits and your future needs become more important than your current wants.
It’s not as overwhelming as it sounds. Yes, it requires dedication. But with a few tweaks to your spending priorities, you’ll be on the fast track to saving money in no time.
Why Americans Aren’t Saving Money
We all know we need to save, but most people don’t save like they know they should. In fact, a 2017 report by the Federal Reserve found that 44% of Americans couldn’t cover a $400 emergency, or they would cover it by borrowing money or selling something.(1)
Why?
Because they have competing goals.
A lot of times the goal to save money isn’t a big enough priority to delay the purchase of that new smartphone, kitchen table, or TV. So we spend our dollars away or, worse yet, go into debt to buy the latest want. That debt then becomes monthly payments that control our paychecks and our lives.
Let’s take a look at some facts about Americans and saving money.
- The average cost of living in 2017 was $57,311 yet 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.
- The average American household debt is $137,063.
- Only 41% of Americans have a budget.
- 44% of adults can’t cover a $400 emergency.
- 42% of Americans aren’t saving for retirement.
So What Is the Secret to Saving Money?
You can stop the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck with a simple secret: Make a zero-based budget before the month begins. A budget is all about being intentional. It helps you create a plan to see where your money is going and how much you can save each month. It’s never too late to take control of your money!
Saving money has to be at the top of your priorities and the top of your budget before you’ll gain any real traction with your goals. When you make a zero-based budget, you’re effectively saying, “I choose to put my future needs before my present wants.” It really doesn’t matter how much money you make—it matters how you spend the money you make.
What Is a Zero-Based Budget?
Zero-based budgeting is simple! It’s just a way of budgeting where your income minus your expenses equals zero. That’s all! With a zero-based budget, you have to make sure your expenses match what’s coming in during the month and you’re giving every dollar a name. Now that doesn’t mean you have zero dollars in your bank account. It just means your income minus all your expenses (outgo) equals zero.
Basically that means if you earn $3,000 a month, you want everything you spend, save, give or invest to all add up to $3,000. That way you know exactly where every one of your dollars is going. You could be setting yourself up for disaster if you don’t know where your money is going each month. It’s no fun to look up one day and find out you have no money—and no clue where it all went!
How to Make a Zero-Based Budget:
- Write down your monthly income. – You can do this the old-fashioned way with a sheet of paper, or you can use our super easy and free budgeting app EveryDollar. Your income should include paychecks, small-business income, side hustles, residual income, child support, and any other cash you bring in. If it’s money and comes into your household’s bank account, it’s income! Be sure to write it down and add it all up in your budget.
- Write down your monthly expenses. – Before the new month even begins, write down every expense. Things like rent, food, cable, phones, and everything in between should be added to the list. But be sure to start your budget with the Four Walls—that’s food, shelter and utilities, basic clothing, and transportation.After you’ve got all the essentials covered, continue listing out the rest of your monthly expenses. Your needs will change from month to month, which is why you need to make a new spending plan every single month. Don’t get overwhelmed! Just focus on one month at a time.
And don’t forget to plug your saving and giving categories into your budget! Saving money isn’t a matter of math—it’s a matter of priorities, and the same is true for giving. If you don’t make saving and giving a priority at the start of your budget, chances are you won’t make them a priority in the future. PLUS, giving is the most fun you’ll ever have with money!
- Write down your seasonal expenses. – Now think through the whole calendar year—what expenses will you have coming up that you can start planning for? You know Christmas is in December every year, so there’s no reason to act like it suddenly snuck up on you. Regardless of the occasion, make sure you prepare for those expenses in the budget. Things like birthdays, anniversaries and holidays are set dates that shouldn’t surprise you—or your budget.
Next, think about all the irregular expenses that can pop up. Plan for those too! Things like car tag renewal fees, property taxes, and even your insurance premiums can be budgeted for. If you set aside a little bit each month, you won’t feel the strain of an expense “blindsiding” you all at once. - Subtract your income from your expenses to equal zero. – We want this number to be zero, but it might take some practice to get there. Don’t be shocked or worried if they don’t balance each other out right away. That just means you need to do something to bring one of the numbers up, the others down, or both! It’ll take some work, but getting this written down is what will give you permission to spend without regret!If you’re spending more than you make, trim up the budget so your income and outgo equal zero. To cut back expenses, try buying generic at the grocery store, cutting the cable, using coupons or the store’s app, making coffee instead of buying it, or catching a carpool to work. If you need to bring in more money, start a side hustle or look for stuff around the house that you can sell to make quick cash.
Here’s the deal with a zero-based budget: Every dollar must have a name! That doesn’t mean you have zero dollars in your bank account at the end of the month—it just means you have zero dollars left over in your budget.
If you fill out every line item in your budget and come out $100 ahead (meaning you have nothing for that $100 to do), you haven’t finished your budget! You must assign that remaining $100 to something. Whatever you decide is totally up to you. But if you don’t give it a name, it will be spent, and you’ll end up wondering where that extra $100 went. And who wants to lose $100?
- Track and go! – All that’s left now is for you to track your expenses throughout the month. It’s the only way you will know if you’re spending lines up with your plan! This is how you’ll start winning with money throughout the month AND throughout the year. When you track your expenses and engage with your money, you actually make progress and learn to love your life—and your bank account.
Having a zero-based budget is the quickest way to make your money goals a reality!
Trying to get out of debt?
You need a budget.
Saving up for a safety net?
You need a budget.
Wanting to put money away for retirement?
You need a budget.
Already a millionaire?
Guess what—you still need a budget.
Remember, you’re the boss of your own budget. You get to tell every single dollar exactly where it will go each month. And don’t think of it as limiting your freedom. Having a budget actually gives you the freedom to spend money AND makes your money go further!
Now is the best time to start taking control of your money! I’ll be covering many topics to teach and encourage saving and debt freedom. Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and my blog at ProsperityRx.com to learn how to save money, make a budget, pay off your debt, reduce your taxes and invest for your future.
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