For many of us, the word “budget” has negative connotations. It can bring up feelings of being deprived and restricted, leading us to associate budgeting with a lack of financial freedom.
However, the truth is that creating a monthly budget is one of the smartest things you can do for your finances. A budget is simply a tool that can help you to make informed decisions about how to best use your money.
If the traditional approach to budgeting doesn’t work for you, there are a number of budget alternatives that you can try to manage money.
Whatever method you choose, the important thing is to find a system that works for you and that you can stick to.
7 Alternatives to a Traditional Budget
Anyone who has ever tried to stick to a budget knows how difficult it can be. Whether you’re trying to save money for a specific goal or simply want to get a better handle on your monthly income, it can be all too easy to overspend.
But what if there was another way? Here are 7 alternatives to the traditional budget that just might work for you.
1. Pay yourself before paying anything else.
One of the best pieces of financial advice I ever received about my personal finance was to pay myself first.
What that means is, that before you pay any bills or make any other payments, you should set aside some money for yourself. This can be done by transferring a fixed amount of money into a savings account every month, or setting aside a certain percentage of your income in your investment accounts using investment tools like or a retirement account with a Robo-advisor like Acorns.
There are a few reasons why paying yourself first is so important. First of all, it helps to ensure that you will always have some money set aside in case of an emergency.
Secondly, it can help you to reach your financial goals more quickly. And finally, it can help to increase your overall sense of financial security.
So if you haven’t been paying yourself first, I encourage you to start doing so today. It’s one of the best things you can do for your financial wellbeing.
2. Use a financial management tool.
A financial management tool like Personal Capital can help you get a clear picture of your spending patterns and make informed choices about where to save money.
Unlike a traditional budget, a personal finance app doesn’t require you to limit your spending in any specific category. Instead, you can use it to track your progress towards your financial goals and make adjustments as needed.
Using a tool like Personal Capital can help you get a better handle on your overall finances and make it easier to save money each month. With Personal Capital, you can link all your financial accounts in one budgeting app and see exactly where your money is going.
You can also use the Personal Capital app to set up a budget, track your progress towards financial goals, and receive personalized recommendations for saving money.
If you’re looking for a way to take control of your finances without feeling like you’re depriving yourself, a personal finance software like Personal Capital may be the answer.
3. Try using a 4-walls budget
If you’re looking to get your finances in order, one helpful tool you can use is a 4-walls budget. This type of budget only includes expenses that are essential to your survival, such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, and healthcare.
By only including these essential expenses, you can get a better sense of where you spend money and how much you can save each month.
Additionally, a 4-walls budget can help you to identify areas where you may be able to cut back on spending. For example, if you find that you’re spending a large chunk of your income on non-essential items like clothes or entertainment, you may be able to save money by reducing your spending in these areas.
If you’re not sure where to start with creating a 4-walls budget, there are plenty of resources available online or from financial advisors.
4. Rename your budget
If you’re like most people, the word “budget” probably doesn’t fill you with a lot of excitement. In fact, it might even make you feel a little bit anxious. But what if I told you that renaming your budget could make a world of difference?
Studies have shown that we are more likely to stick to our goals when we give them a positive name. So instead of calling it a “budget,” why not call it your “spending plan”? This small change can help to frame your budget in a positive light, and make it feel less like a restrictive force in your life.
Of course, a name change is just one small step on the road to financial success. But it’s a step that can make a big difference in how you approach your finances – and that’s worth taking.
5. Use a two-account system
Maintaining a healthy financial life can be a tricky balancing act. On one hand, you want to be smart with your money and avoid debt. On the other hand, you don’t want to be so frugal that you can’t enjoy your life. One way to strike this balance is to use a two-account system for your finances.
Under this system, you would have one bank account for your regular expenses and another for your savings accounts or investment account. This way, you can make sure that your essential bills are always covered, but you also have some money set aside for fun purchases or unexpected expenses.
This system only works if you are disciplined about sticking to your budget. But if you can stay on track with your personal finance, using two accounts can help you maintain a healthy financial life.
6. Track your spending habits
What if there was an easier way than creating a traditional budget to get a handle on your financial transactions? Instead of budgeting, try tracking your spending.
Tracking your spending doesn’t have to be as complicated as it sounds. Simply take some time at the end of each day or week to jot down your day-to-day spending to get an idea of where you are spending money.
You can break it down by category if you want, or just keep a general running total. Over time, you’ll start to see patterns emerge in your cash flow.
Maybe you spend more than you realized on nights out with friends, or you tend to splurge on clothes when you’re feeling stressed. Once you’re aware of your spending triggers, it’s easier to make changes.
So if budgeting has always felt like too much work, give yourself a break and try tracking your spending instead. It might just be the easier – and more effective – solution you’ve been looking for.
7. Create a spending plan.
Creating a spending plan is an important step in taking control of your finances. It can help you reach your financial goals and live according to your values.
The first step in creating a spending plan is to figure out what your income is and where it comes from. Once you know how much money you have coming in, you can begin to allocate it towards different expenses.
Your spending plan should reflect your financial goals and values. For example, if you value travel and experiences over material possessions, you would want to allocate a larger portion of your income towards travel costs.
Alternatively, if you are trying to save for a down payment on a home, you would want to put a larger proportion of your income into savings.
Why Budgets Fail
A budget can make you feel deprived.
A budget is supposed to help you manage your money, but sometimes it can have the opposite effect. If you’re too restrictive with your budget, it can make you feel deprived and cause you to give up on your financial goals.
It’s important to find a balance between being prudent with your spending and allowing yourself enough room to breathe. Otherwise, you might end up feeling like you’re constantly depriving yourself, which can lead to overspending when you finally do give in.
So don’t be too hard on yourself when it comes to sticking to a budget. Find a happy medium that will allow you to stick to your financial goals without making you feel like you’re depriving yourself of the things you enjoy.
Keeping a budget is too much work.
Budgets fail for a lot of reasons, but one of the most common is that they’re just too much work to maintain accurate information. Having to track every penny you spend and make sure it lines up with your budget can be exhausting, and it’s easy to slip up here and there with your record keeping.
Life is also full of unexpected day-to-day expenses, which can throw your budget off course. However, the key to sticking to a budget is to be flexible and adjust as needed based on your individual circumstances.
If tracking every expense is too much work, try breaking your budget down into different spending categories instead. This can help you get a general idea of where your money is going without getting too bogged down in the details.
And if you have an upcoming expense that you weren’t planning for, don’t be afraid to adjust your budget accordingly. The most important thing is to remain mindful of your income and expenses and make adjustments as needed.
With a little effort, you can make sticking to a budget a whole lot easier.
It can make you depressed to face your spending habits.
For many of us, looking at our monthly spending and financial accounts can be depressing. We may not realize how much money we’ve been wasting on unnecessary expenses. Or we may be surprised by how much we’re spending on things that don’t bring us joy.
As a result, we may feel discouraged and give up on our budget before we even get started. If you’re struggling to stick to a budget, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone.
Millions of people face the same challenges. But there are ways to overcome these challenges and succeed with your budget.
First, start by tracking your spending for one month with a budgeting app like Personal Capital or Mint, so you have a clear picture of where your money is going. Then, create a realistic budget that includes both your essential expenses and some room for fun. Finally, make sure to review your budget regularly and make adjustments as needed.
With a little effort, you can create a budget that works for you and helps you reach your financial goals.
You lose interest in keeping the budget.
One of the most common reasons budgets can fail is simply that people lose interest in following them. It’s easy to get excited about saving money when you first start out, but after a while, it can become a chore to look at the monthly bills.
If you’re not careful, it’s easy to slip into old habits and start spending without really thinking about it. That’s why it’s important to find ways to keep yourself motivated.
Maybe set up financial goals for yourself or give yourself a small reward every time you stay within your budget for a month. Try using a budgeting app that you can use to connect all your accounts in one place.
Whatever you do, don’t lose sight of why you’re doing this in the first place. Stick with it and you’ll be surprised at how much money you can save.
The fixed costs on your budget are too high.
Most budgets have fixed costs, which are expenses that stay the same each month, like rent or mortgage payments and transportation costs, such as a car payment.
These are just a few of the necessary expenses that can add up quickly and make it difficult to stick to a budget. In addition, many people have bill payments, such as credit cards or student loans, that also need to be factored in.
When these expenses exceed your income, it can be difficult to make ends meet, let alone save money. If you’re struggling to stick to a budget, take a close look at your fixed costs and see if there’s any room for negotiation or reduction.
You may be surprised how much you can save by making a few adjustments to your spending.
Other family members don’t want to help with the budget.
One of the biggest challenges of sticking to a budget is dealing with other family members who don’t want to help.
It can be frustrating to try to stick to a budget when your spouse or child is constantly asking for money for new clothes or toys. And if you’re not careful, you can end up resenting your family for their spending habits.
The key to dealing with this issue is communication. Sit down with your family and explain why you’re trying to stick to a budget. Explain what your goals are and ask for their help in sticking to the plan.
If everyone is on the same page, it will be easier to stay within your budget. And if someone does make a purchase that isn’t in the budget, don’t be afraid to have a frank discussion about it.
Remember, you’re all in this together!
Different Budgets to Try
When it comes to budgeting, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. What works for one person may not work for another. The key is to find a basic budgeting method that fits your lifestyle and your financial goals. If you’re not sure where to start, here are three popular budgeting methods to consider:
Traditional budgets
The traditional budget method is often used by people who are trying to get out of debt. While this monthly budget method may seem simple, it can be difficult to stick to in practice.
With this method, you create a list of all your income and expenses, then developing a plan to make sure your spending does not exceed your income.
One of the biggest challenges is tracking all of your spending. It can be easy to forget about small purchases, or justify larger ones. Downloading a budgeting app will help. Personal Capital and Mint are easy to use and can help get you on track.
Another problem is dealing with unexpected expenses. If you have a strict budget, an unexpected bill can throw everything off balance.
However, despite these challenges, many people find that traditional budgeting is the best way to keep their finances under control.
Envelope budget
One popular alternative is the envelope system, which involves dividing every dollar of your income into different categories and placing the corresponding amount of cash into labeled envelopes.
Then, when you need to make a purchase, you can take the money out of the appropriate envelope. This system can help you to stay within your budget and avoid overspending.
It’s a simple way to take control of your finances and start saving money. Give it a try and see how it works for you!
Zero-based budgeting
A zero-based budget is a type of budgeting where your income minus your expenses equals zero.
That is, every dollar you earn is allocated to a specific expense, and when you reach the end of your budget, your account balance should be at zero. This may sound extreme, but it can be a helpful way to get your finances in order.
One of the major benefits of a zero-based budget is that it forces you to be mindful of every penny you’re spending.
When every dollar has a purpose, you’re less likely to waste money on unnecessary purchases. Additionally, a zero-based budget can help you save money by identifying areas where you can cut back on spending.
If you find that you’re often overspending in certain categories, you can adjust your budget. Overall, a zero-based budget can be a helpful tool for getting your finances back on track.
50/30/20 Budget
This budgeting method, which was popularized by Senator Elizabeth Warren, suggests that you break down your after-tax income into three categories – 50% for necessities, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings and debt repayment.
The 50/30/20 rule can be a helpful way to think about budgeting, especially if you’re trying to get out of debt. By allocating 50% of your income towards essentials like housing and groceries, you’ll ensure that your basic needs are covered.
You can then use the remaining 30% for discretionary spending on things like entertainment and travel. And finally, the last 20% can be dedicated to savings and debt repayment.
80/20 Budget
When it comes to personal finances, the 80/20 rule is a great way to budget your money. Essentially, this rule says that you should spend 80% of your income on essential expenses, like housing, food, and transportation, and save 20% for savings and debt payoff. This rule can help you stay on track with your finances and avoid overspending.
One of the benefits of the 80/20 budget is that it forces you to be mindful of your spending. When you know that you only have a certain amount of money to work with each month, you’re more likely to be strategic about how you use it. This can help you avoid impulse purchases and stay on track with your financial goals.
Another advantage of this budget is that it leaves room for unexpected expenses. If something comes up that you weren’t anticipating, you don’t have to scramble to find the money to cover it. This can give you peace of mind and help you avoid financial stress.
If you’re looking for a way to get your finances under control, the 80/20 budget is a great option. Give it a try and see how it works for you!
60% Budget
One thing that experts agree on is that you should never spend more than 60% of your income on essential expenses. This includes things like rent, food, utilities, and transportation. By keeping your spending in check, you’ll be able to start saving for the future and avoid debt.
Of course, 60% is just a guideline – some people may find that they can live comfortably on less, while others may need to spend a bit more. The important thing is to figure out what works for you and stick to it. There are a lot of helpful budgeting tools out there, so do some research and find the system that works best for you. With a little effort, you can get your finances under control and start reaching your financial goals.
Reverse Budgeting
What is reverse budgeting? It’s when you start off each month by factoring in your known expenses, and then allocating the remainder of your income to savings and debt repayment.
This may sound like a simple idea, but it can be powerfully effective in helping you to get control of your finances. Here’s how it works:
- First, make a list of all your fixed monthly expenses, such as rent, utilities, insurance, and loan payments.
- Then add up all your variable costs, such as groceries, transportation, and entertainment.
- Once you know your total monthly outgo, subtract it from your income. The resulting number is what’s left to work with for the month.
- Next, decide how much you want to save each month. A good rule of thumb is to aim for 10-15% of your income.
- Once you’ve determined your savings goal, automate the transfer from your checking account to your savings account so that it happens automatically each month.
If you have any debt, use the remaining funds to make extra payments on your high-interest debts. By focusing on paying down your debt with this “leftover” money, you’ll be able to get out of debt more quickly and free up even more money each month.
The reverse budgeting system can be a helpful way to get your finances under control. Give reverse budgeting a try and see how it works for you!
Final Thoughts
Creating a budget is an important step in taking control of your finances. But it’s not the only way to manage your money.
If you’re struggling with budgeting, or if you’re just looking for some alternatives, there are a few other options worth considering. Try out a few different methods and see what works best for you. With a little effort, you can get your finances on track and start reaching your financial goals.
Give one of these methods a try and see how it works for you!