Why People Hate the Word Budgeting

Many people dislike the word budgeting. There are a number of reasons for this. People view a budget as something they “should do.” I should spend so much on food, clothing, miscellaneous. I should save. While some people are successful with “should dos” for very short periods of time they are rarely successful over long periods of time.

Some people view budgeting as I cannot have this or I cannot have that. Again, this kind of attitude or perspective is rarely successful over any period of time.

What’s missing are your goals. Why do you want to be on a budget? What are you trying to accomplish? Budgeting for the sake of budgeting is no fun and often why people dislike budgeting. However, if you have a goal in mind, budgeting makes sense. If you know you want to buy a washer and dryer or a new car, now you have something to save for – something that is personal to you – a reason to budget.

A budget is nothing more than a plan for your spending and (saving). In other words, a budget means you spend your money the way it brings you most value – spend well or spend intentionally. It also means you don’t spend money on things that don’t bring you value and interfere with your goals. Budgeting is designed to help you focus on what you want – not what you should do. If you don’t care about clothing, consider shopping second hand. If you a new car is not important to you, do not let others pressure you into buying one. There are hundreds of ways to cut spending on things that are not important to you so you have money left for things that are important to you.

Before you can be successful in budgeting you have to set your financial goals. It does not have to be a long drawn out process. Just write a list of 3 to 5 goals and put a dollar amount next to them. Now you know why you are budgeting. Now you have a reason not to overspend. Now you have a reason not to copy your co-workers or family or friends by making purchases that bring you very little satisfaction. Very very few people can have it all. But with a little budgeting (spending your money intentionally) most people can have what is important to them. Good luck as you set your financial goals and develop a budget or spending plan to help you reach your goals.