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Are you stuck in your finances and don’t know where to begin? I’m going to help you organize your finances! It begins with creating a budget.
Today, I’m going to share with you why I started my budgeting journey. I’m also going to give you a free 2023 budget planner that I created to help you on start or improve your financial journey. Budgeting has transformed how I save, spend, and think about my money. Since 2022 is coming to a close, I want to help you to get your finances in order for 2023!
If you are eager to get your Free 2023 Budget Planner and start creating your budget, then click the link below to begin the download!
2023 Budget PlannerMy Budgeting Journey
While growing up, there were no discussions about money in my home. I was never taught how to budget and save money. The plan was for me to go to college, get a good job, and to make money. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do with my money after I received it, so I spent it quickly.
When I began my budgeting journey in 2020, the thought of creating a budget and sticking to it scared me. During that time, I would spend more than I earned, and piled up a lot of debt. I am by no means perfect. There are still times that I make an impulse purchase and go over budget. But I know exactly where all of my money needs to go, and I have a buffer account for unexpected expenses.
My first budget was written on a sheet of paper. I didn’t have a fancy budget planner, digital planner, or spreadsheet. It began with me writing down my bills and income on a piece of paper. That’s when reality set in. I didn’t have any money left after paying all of my bills. On top of that, we were in a pandemic and people were being laid off from their jobs daily.
It scared me that I was not prepared for an emergency. I was living paycheck to paycheck. Even though I hated my job, I was not prepared to pay my bills if I did lose my job. I did not like feeling so dependent on my employer.
Budgeting Tools
I got serious about my finances and searched for planners, spreadsheets, and other budgeting tools that would help me. I learned about cash envelope stuffing and became a little obsessed, lol.
I bought a cash envelope wallet and cash envelopes and started stuffing for items that I considered unexpected expenses (Christmas, birthdays, car registration fees, subscriptions, medical copays, etc.). They were not really unexpected expenses; I just was not budgeting for them. That’s when I learned that these were sinking fund categories.
2023 Budget Planner
As I reflected on where I am in my finances, I realized that writing down my budget works best for me. This led to me creating the 2023 budget planner! It’s a simple way to track your finances and goals in one place. The best part is that it’s a printable, so you can use it as a digital or written budget planner! (If you have GoodNotes, you will need to import the planner into the app to use it as a digital planner)
I started this blog to help you learn about finances and to provide tools that will help you transform your finances. I realize that purchasing budgeting items can add up. As someone who is recovering from overspending, I would not want you to go over your budget to buy budgeting products. It defeats the purpose of trying to save money and pay off debt, so I created freebies to help you on your financial journey!
The 2023 Budget Planner Includes:
- 2023 Calendar
- 2023 Year at a Glance Calendar
- Undated Monthly Calendar
- Monthly Budget Sheet
- Paycheck Budget Sheet
- Expense Tracker Sheet
- Sinking Funds Tracker Sheet
- Bank Balance Check and Bank Deposits Sheet
- Debt Snowball Tracker Sheet
- Notes
Download the 2023 Budget Planner
Remember that this is a journey and that your budget may not stay the same. Life will happen and you can change and adjust your budget as needed. Use the budgeting tools and format that best suits your needs so that you will be consistent with your progress. Don’t follow trends but follow what works best for you!
To get your Free 2023 Budget Planner Click the link below to begin the download:
2023 Budget PlannerPlease feel free to check out the free budgeting resource library that has all a bunch of budgeting trackers to help you transform your finances: Free Budgeting Resource Library.
If this planner has helped you, I would love for you to leave a comment below! Please share this with someone who needs help budgeting and connect with me on social media @thesavingbutterfly
