How to Create a Budget in 6 Easy Steps

man working on laptop with overlay of learn from liz

Sam Smith sings about not having money on his mind and that he does what he does for the love.  We that is GREAT for him but most of us have to have money on the mind at least a little!  I love his song that goes a little something like this…

“I don’t have
Money on my mind
Money on my mind
I do it for
I do it for the love”

But if you always have money on your mind wondering how you’re going to pay the next bill and you just can’t find money to save, you might need a budget.

A budget will help you gain financial awareness, which will help facilitate more financial freedom to do things just for the love of it.

Here are 6 easy steps to create a budget:

Step 1: Gather your financial information

Collect all your financial documents and receipts for three consecutive months. This includes all account statements, bills, pay stubs, receipts and more.

Step 2: Tally up your totals

Divide your documents into expenses and income. Then, list the corresponding numbers on a spreadsheet. As you work through these lists, include occasional and seasonal expenses, dividing their totals by 12 to spread them evenly throughout the year.

When you have your numbers, take a look at how they match up. If your expenses outweigh your income, trim your spending and/or look for ways to boost income.

Step 3: List all your needs

Take a look at how you’ve spent your money in the recorded time and identify all the actual needs. This includes fixed expenses like mortgage/rent payments, savings, insurance premiums and car payments; as well as fluctuating but necessary expenses, like groceries. To keep it simpler, list your fixed expenses first, followed by your non-fixed expenses. Our budget worksheet contains expense categories you may forget.

As you list each need, write down its corresponding cost. When you’ve finished creating this list, add up the total.

Step 4: List your wants

Your next step is listing the stuff you love but can really live without. Include entertainment costs here, as well as eating out and expensive hobbies.

Here too, jot down the monthly cost of each item and tally up the total when you’re done.

Step 5: Assign dollar amounts to expenses

Open up a new spreadsheet, and copy your list of expenses, starting with the fixed-cost needs, then your non-fixed-cost needs, and finally your wants.

Next, assign a specific dollar amount to each expense category. If your budget allows, you can use the average amount you’ve spent in each category for the last three months to set the cap for that expense.

Continue until every dollar is accounted for and you have enough money in your budget to cover each need, want and occasional expense. If expenses outweigh income, you’ll need to trim some expenses for your budget to work.

Going forward, be sure to spend only the assigned amounts for each expense category.

Step 6: Review and adjust as necessary

Review your budget monthly to see if you’re staying on track. If you consistently overspend in a category, spend less in a different area so you have more money available to meet your needs.

For more budgeting tips, tools, and tricks check out our Banzai! page and Money Management by MX in our app and desktop banking platform.

Related posts


husband and wife budgeting at table

12 Steps to Financial Wellness – Step 4: Have the Money Talk with Your Partner

We’ve all heard that money issues are one of the leading causes of divorces and breakups, but avoiding the topic isn’t going to make it go away! Set a time for the discussion and be sure to listen rather than going in with preconceived ideas. Try to find a shared money vision, and be open about who pays what bills. You can do hard things. Continue reading
man sitting in chair

Do It Today: Steps 1-4 of 12 toward Living a Debt-Free Life

If you’re determined that this will be the year you finally pay down (or pay off) that debt. Get ready, because this Do It Today plan will have you taking 12 steps on your journey toward living a debt-free life. Continue reading
Auston and Aidon with overlay graphic learn from liz

Kids + Extracurricular Activities = $$$

It's National Son's Day! If you have sons or daughters as active in extracurricular activities as mine, you know how draining that can be on your checkbook. Check out these money saving tips when it comes to paying for ALL THE THINGS! Continue reading