What Is A Spending Budget And How To Create One?

Pagkain..
Pamasahe..
Tubig at kuryente..
Cable and internet..
Kotse..
Tuition fee..
Diaper at gatas..
At kung ano-ano pa!

Ang daming gastusin, pero limited ang kita.
Ang bawat sentimo na pumapasok ay siguradong may pinupuntahan.
A foolish person will spend everything but a wise person knows how to manage his/her resources and spend it wisely. So if you want to be wise with your finances, it is very important for us to make a spending budget.

Having a SPENDING BUDGET allows you to be able to identify what part of your money goes to the spending allowance. Yes, you heard it right. Pwede namang gumastos. It is okay to spend as long as you have the money for it. Ang mahirap ay yung wala kang pang-gastos pero gastos ka ng gastos. Kaya may mga taong nalulubog sa utang dahil wala silang spending budget. Kaya ang tendency pagdating sa paggastos ay “sky’s the limit”, kumbaga.

If you have a spending budget, ibig sabihin pwede kang gumastos para sa bonggang bakasyon, hi-tech na cellphone, toys para sa mga anak mo, para sa mga luho mo at sa kung ano-ano pa as long as pasok ito sa budget na ginawa mo. I’m sure you will base your spending budget sa resources na meron ka. The key here, is living and enjoying within your means.

When we are creating a spending budget, it helps us to develop patience, to wait for the right time before we spend. Once the money comes, we will be able to spend our money with joy and not with remorse or regret. Mas masarap gumastos when you have peace in your heart, kaysa yung nakokonsensya ka at di ka mapalagay.

Now, the question is, how can we create spending budget?
Here are my four easy steps:

KNOW YOUR INCOME

This is the first step in creating a spending budget. Alamin mo ang exact income mo or range ng amount na kinikita mo on a regular basis. Lahat ng pinagkakakitaan mo at kinikita mo ay kwentahin mo so you would know how much your resources are.

LIST YOUR EXPENSES

List down your expenses and priorities. Ano yung mga pinagkakagastusan mo on a regular basis para mag-survive ka. Make sure that you can identify between your needs and wants. Unahin mo muna ang mga pangangailangan mo.

MAKE A BUDGET PLAN

After knowing your income and expenses, make a plan on how to spend your resources sa bawat needs na meron ka. Kapag na hati-hati mo na at may budget ka na sa lahat ng priorities mo, then dito ka mag umpisang mag-set ng spending allowance mo. As I always say, you should adjust your lifestyle to your income and not vice versa. Because if not, ikaw rin ang mahihirapan sa huli.

STICK TO IT

Marami gumagawa ng plano, pero hindi naman nagtatagal. Ika nga, ningas kugon. Panay umpisa wala namang tapos. We need to become great finishers, not only good starters.

THINK. REFLECT. APPLY.

Do you have a spending budget?
Have you tried making a budget plan?
How do you spend your resources?