To Budget or Not to Budget...

There is this ad that has recently been coming on the radio. It nearly drives me mad just thinking about it. Its some guy talking about the “financial crisis” and how as the economy slows down, we all need to do our part - and keep spending our money. Huh? Did you just say what I think you said? I’m pretty sure its sponsored by the government of Alberta (who likely have millions stashed away for a rainy day), and its just this random guy who occasionally comes on your radio and tells you to spend money. Convincing…

Or not…

I can’t necessarily say we have felt the effects of the economy in a direct way, or at least in a way that I can tell from day to day. Really any financial crisis happening with us has to do with the weather. When the Hubby is out working in the cold (Lord bless his soul) there has to be a limit. So usually its about -30 without windchill before they get sent home. Um, yeah, I'd probably be leaving at about -10! So we have had quite a few weather days lately. Making the pay cheques pretty small. Which means we are forced to be a bit more careful with our money. Actually, a lot more careful.

Which is where budgeting comes in. Oh, budgeting, the joys. Really I am not an budgeting expert, and I can’t say that we stick to the budget every month, but at times like these, we HAVE to budget! I was always the budget naysayer for years. Rob always suggested one, although I was the one who was going to have to create it, so I suppose really I needed to come around more than he did. But one day I found a budgeting worksheet online, filled it out (using our numbers), and realized that we were about $400 short every month.

Excuse me??? Is that even possible? Apparently so.

I don’t think it was every month, but certain months, if that makes sense. Anyway, for me that was a giant wake up call. No wonder we weren't getting anywhere financially. Rob was getting raises, I was working, yet financially we were still struggling. When I did the math, and checked it again, I realized it was time for a budget.

Its been about a year now and I'm fairly used to it, although at times the spender in me has a hard time sticking to it. Rob and I really are a deadly combination, both spenders, not savers. But financially we really are smartening up. I wish we would have had similar ideas before we got married, or in our early married years. Unfortunately there isn't much I can do about our financial ignorance (well, other than pay for it, literally!), so we have to do what we can now. If I can say anything to parents, it would be to teach your children how to responsibly manage their money from a young age. And show them how you yourself do this as well. Good habits start early!
So I think I'm naturally a thrifty person, recession or not, but at times like these, I suppose when I stop and think about it, there are still a lot of things to be thankful for...

I'm glad I'm thrifty. I'm glad I clip coupons. I'm glad I can be creative, both in decorating my home, as well as in gift giving. I'm thankful for hand-me-downs. I'm glad for Rob's $500 beater work car, that still runs two years later, and that a $25 tank of gas lasts two weeks. I'm glad for Value Villages. I appreciate zucchini's, because honestly, they really do help to stretch a meal! I'm thankful that I qualified for another maternity leave. I'm grateful for a husband who puts up with my thriftiness, and appreciates it...most of the time ;)

Anyway, I thought I would share just a little glimpse into our budgeting system. Rob hates my "envelopes" and refuses to take them into a store, because he feels like a dork. I figure, whatever works. Probably was the best $7 I ever spent, and its probably allowed me to save much more than that. I just picked up the pencil cases at a Dollarama, as well as the accordion folder, and fantastically enough, the pencil cases fit in there. Completely brilliant, I know :)
If you want to get your own budgeting worksheet, or find some get out of debt/budgeting tips, go to www.betterbudgeting.com or just click here.