And check out the new paycheck planning feature in the premium version of EveryDollar. If you have an irregular income, you can still do this! Just put the lowest estimate of what you normally make in this spot. Repeat that process with all the income you (and your spouse, if you’re married) will earn in a month.

Click the Planned amount and add in a planned dollar amount.Label the income as Paycheck 1, Paycheck 2, Side Hustle Money, or with your employer’s name-whatever works for you!.Here’s how you enter your income in EveryDollar: Income is any money you plan to get during that month-that means your normal paychecks and any extra money coming your way through a side hustle, garage sale, freelance work and the like. The first step to create your monthly budget is simple: Enter your income. You can create your budget in a spreadsheet, on a piece of paper, or the best way-with EveryDollar. When you create a monthly budget, you tell your money where to go so you’re never again left wondering where it went. Your monthly budget is just a plan for your money. What Is a Monthly Budget?įirst, let’s start with a solid definition of budgeting. Ready to start? Let’s break down the steps and learn how to create a budget with EveryDollar. (You.)Īnd with EveryDollar, it’s way easier. It gives you permission to spend the right way-to show your money who’s in charge. But listen: The budget life is so worth it.īudgeting doesn’t tell you not to spend. People think budgets are hard, time-consuming and restricting. If you’re confused about whether something is a need or a want, simply ask yourself, “Could I live without this?” If the answer is yes, that’s probably a want.The word budget can get a bad rap. It simply means being more conscious about your money by finding areas in your budget where you’re needlessly overspending. And if you discover that you’re spending too much on your wants, it’s worth thinking about which of those you could cut back on.Īs a side note, following the 50/30/20 rule doesn’t mean not being able to enjoy your life. Using the same example as above, if your monthly after-tax income is €2000, you can spend €600 for your wants. Entertainment subscriptions (Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime).Wants are defined as non-essential expenses-things that you choose to spend your money on, although you could live without them if you had to. With 50% of your after-tax income taking care of your most basic needs, 30% of your after-tax income can be used to cover your wants.

Monthly income budget template