Top budgeting tips

By Kate de Brito

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Don’t see a budget as being about what you can’t have, but instead, working out what you can afford.
Don’t deprive yourself completely. Factor in the odd treat, otherwise you will never stick to your budget.
Don’t use ATMs, or only use them once a week.
Leave your credit card at home; the less temptation, the better.
Only shop when you have to.
Shop during sales, especially for major purchases.
If you see something you want, look at your budget first. If you can, save the money rather than use credit.
Pay your bills on time. You can save hundreds of dollars a year in charges.
Go back through your bills and work out where you can cut costs.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount.

BONUS - Download your free budget planner here

Illustration: Donna Grethen Illustrations

Published in Notebook Magazine

Issue: September 2008

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sareg0

commented on Top budgeting tips at 12:27am Thu 25th June, 2009

For anyone living in Queensland, you can have someone come around to your house and install energy efficient lighting for $50. The guy also gave us a power monitor (which is wireless, so you can carry it around the house with you), that tells you kilowatt usage now, average daily, and gives you the tariff rate you are operating on, and your average costs per hour, and per day. Check out www.climatesmarthome.com
Honest to God, it will show you how much your spending boiling the kettle with too much water, or having the fridge on too high... Best investment I've made in cutting my power bills.

nutmegs70

commented on Top budgeting tips at 11:31am Tue 6th January, 2009

I have a separate "bills" savings account - I always make sure that I have a months worth of bill money saved in that account.
Then I average out the bills and each payday put the required amount back into the account, that way I am always covered when a bill comes in.

s6ac89

commented on Top budgeting tips at 7:17pm Fri 5th December, 2008

i put a calendar by the computer with my big expenses marked on it such as when bills are expected and a rough estimate of what th ebill is supposed to be it gives me an idea of how much my budget for the month ought to be. i also shop all year for christmas giving me plenty of sales etc and giving me the opportunity to pick up extra birthday gifts for people

cathy66

commented on Top budgeting tips at 1:26pm Mon 13th October, 2008

i have had a printout sitting by the computer for 12 monthes, showing what payments are due when during and that has helped to get our finances back on track. we are not debt free yet but we can cope when big bills come in.