166 | Budgeting Hacks: Level Up from Beginner to Pro (Budgeting Tips, Steps & Automation)

Snag Our Simplified Budget System! 👋 Hey there, amazing listeners! Are you ready to take your budgeting skills from beginner to pro? If you've ever felt stuck or paralyzed when it comes to budgeting and wondered when to start saving or paying off debt, you're in the right place! We're here to guide you through the steps to level up your budgeting game. Let's go from that initial budget creation to building a legacy. 🚀👩‍👧‍👦 Let's talk about the three phases of budgeting – Beginner, Middle, and Pro!Beginner Budgeting - Getting Started:- Many of our clients and listeners have never started a budget or found it hard to stick to one. Don't worry; you're not alone!- The first step is to get on a budget, and we're here to help you with that.- Start by creating a Bills Account where you'll pay your bills and debt from your income.- Separate your bills from your spending and focus on minimal spending. Ask yourself, "What do I absolutely need?"- Keep your spending categories minimal at the beginning – pocket money, restaurant expenses, gas, and groceries.- Create wiggle room in your budget by cutting unnecessary expenses and putting extra money toward debt.Middle Budgeting - Learning and Perfecting:- In the middle phase, you're still learning, but you're not a beginner anymore.- Perfect your Paycheck Plan: Deposit your income into a Bills Account, then allocate it to spending and savings.- Implement automation to fund your categories automatically.- Add minimal savings buckets for immediate needs like holidays, car maintenance, and birthdays.- Start identifying and planning for "unexpected" expenses ahead of time.- Continue to pay off debt while building good budgeting habits.Pro Budgeting - Graduating to Pro Status:- Fully fund your savings buckets and plan for expenses 12 months ahead.- Consider ramping up your investments, like increasing contributions to retirement plans or starting a Roth IRA.- Refine your spending habits and reduce unnecessary expenses.- Have conversations about responsible spending with your kids and teach them about budgeting.- Enjoy the freedom of being more generous, whether it's giving to causes you care about or helping your kids with their financial future.- Dream big and set ambitious financial goals, watching your net worth grow and securing your financial future.Connect With Us: 1️⃣ Facebook Group – Join the community. Our free group is where the real talk happens. Connect with other women who are learning how to budget, save, and finally feel in control, together. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook 2️⃣ Automate Your Budget Masterclass – Watch it now, no waiting. This FREE on-demand training shows you how to set up a budget that matches your lifestyle, without tracking every dollar or feeling restricted. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/automate 3️⃣ Budget – Grab our Simplified Budget System! You don’t need another budget, you need a system that does the math, makes the plan, and gives you permission to spend. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/budget 4️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching – Get a plan and a coach. We’ll build your full budget system together, so you always know what to do and feel confident doing it. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching 5️⃣ Be on the Podcast – Free coaching, real convo. Come chat with us on the show! Get real-time financial coaching and help other women by sharing your story. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall "I love Shana & Vanessa and this podcast is amazing!" 👈🏻 If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing our show! It helps us to reach more people – just like you – to help them change their financial future. Don’t forget to follow the show so you don’t miss any episodes! And, if you’re feeling really generous, we’d be SO honored if you would share this podcast with someone. Click here to view our privacy policy. This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase!