How do you budget? And what digital tools do you use?

Reese despatched this query in December:

Kristen, may we get a submit about beginning up some issues for the brand new 12 months, financially talking?

I’m simply making an attempt to make it via the vacations, however I do know I wish to deal with paying down debt, engaged on saving extra, and perhaps introduce some enjoyable apps and frugal wins into my on a regular basis life. It could be a enjoyable choice to have readers write in to say what they use (Envelope system? Excel? Mint? Good ol’ paper and pen?), how they price range (What share for tithing, financial savings, how to determine meals $), any digital instruments (ibotta, CashApp, GetUpside, and many others).

I may actually use some motivation. And need assistance to get again on monitor! I figured the brand new 12 months could be time to begin one thing I may keep on with. 🙂

-Reese

Reese did a Meet a Reader interview earlier than. Keep in mind the gorgeous baked items she makes??

To deal with Reese’s questions:

Personally, I’m in an excellent bizarre state of economic limbo. My funds are functionally separated, however till a divorce settlement is finalized, nothing I save or earn is totally mine.

It’s kind of a demoralizing place to be, however I do know it’s short-term. A protracted short-term, sure, however that’s nonetheless not the identical as one thing being everlasting!

I’m clearly nonetheless working laborious at saving cash, however I’ll have much more pleasure round my monetary efforts as soon as my cash is completely my very own.

So, I’m not likely budgeting in the intervening time; I’m simply in spend-as-little-as-is-reasonably-possible mode.

As soon as my divorce is finalized, I’ll get again to establishing particular financial savings objectives, and I’ll arrange focused financial savings accounts like I used to have.

Proper now, that’s an excessive amount of complication to take care of. I’ve been making an attempt to maintain the monetary image so simple as attainable as a way to easy the method of splitting the whole lot.

Briefly, I’m moderately ineffective at answering these questions proper now; subsequent 12 months, I’ll have higher solutions.

Readers, I’d love so that you can reply Reese’s questions!