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Following a budget is a smart financial decision. If you stay on a budget, you are less likely to go into debt and you may find it easier to regularly fund your savings account.
But a budget isn’t something you can just set and forget. Over time, your budget may need an overhaul. And that is most likely the case if these three things apply to you.
1. You save less each month than before
Many people set savings goals that they try to stick to. If it was once possible for you to achieve your goals, but suddenly you have a hard time doing it, then your budget is probably in need of a refresh.
Maybe some of your living expenses have gone up in recent months. Or maybe you’ve added expenses that you thought you were losing for good. For example, you can go to an office twice a week after spending almost 18 months working remotely.
Look at your monthly expenses and try to determine where these additional expenses are coming from. And then adjust your budget accordingly.
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2. You accumulate credit card charges that you cannot pay on time.
There is nothing wrong with charging expenses to a credit card. This is especially true if you accumulate Cash Back or Reward Points and pay your bills at the end of the month. But if you’re starting to struggle to pay off your credit card debt when due, that’s a sign you need to rework your budget.
If you’re already at the point where you’re starting to get into debt, review your budget and target your non-essential expenses, like social outings, cable, and streaming services. You may need to narrow one or more of these areas to avoid digging yourself into a hole.
3. At least one of your fixed bills has increased
It is not uncommon for some living expenses to increase over time. You could get out of a promotional cell phone plan and see your bill go up by $ 20 per month. Or your apartment lease could be renewed and your landlord could start charging you an additional $ 50 per month to live there.
If any of your fixed bills (i.e. the ones that don’t change from month to month) have increased recently, now is a good time to sit down and see if any other changes. must be made within your budget. You may need to cut back on a variable expense category, like food, to offset a rising fixed bill.
Don’t ignore your budget
Having a budget can really be to your financial advantage, but only if it accurately reflects your spending and your lifestyle. If any of the above factors apply to you, it’s time to sit down with your personal finances, take a deep look at your budget, and make the necessary changes.
You might even consider signing up for a budgeting app if you aren’t already using one. These apps might make your budget even more accurate in the future, especially if this app is linked to your different bank accounts and credit cards to give you a complete picture of how your finances look.
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