Different people have different definitions of financial freedom. Some make ends meet without help from others, while others think it’s taking care of today’s financial commitments while conserving money for a comfortable retirement. Others still believe that to truly achieve financial freedom, both are required.
All of these are true, but whatever your personal convictions are, there are immediate steps you can take to move towards financial independence. A step like this is “budgeting”. Budgeting is a lesson in money management that cannot be emphasized enough. A budget drives you to save money, keep track of your progress, and realize your ambitions by assisting you in identifying your long-term goals and working toward them. In essence, a budget aids in maintaining your focus.
Making a budget will help you avoid overspending; today, people frequently spend more than they can afford, even as we do not run a debt economy like foreign countries. However, you won’t be in this precarious scenario if you make a budget and, more importantly, stick to the budget. You’ll be aware of how much money is made, how much has to be saved, how much you can afford to spend in a specific period of time, how much was spent without plans, and what it was spent on.
Budgeting is helpful when one is in a crisis. Three to six months’ worth of living expenses are placed in an emergency fund in case of an unforeseen life crisis, such as job loss, illness, or home repair costs. A budget ensures you access money for unexpected expenses because it forces you to save. Health emergencies can happen to anyone at any time, including family members and even oneself.
A pleasant retirement is one of the results of creating a budget. Including investment contributions in your budget is crucial. You’ll be grateful to your former self for saving your future if you set aside a portion of your monthly income or at regular intervals to put toward your retirement plans. We can all agree that it is preferable to put money into a worthwhile endeavour rather than to throw away potential retirement savings today.
You are forced to examine your spending patterns after creating a budget. You may discover that you’re spending cash on stuff you don’t really or currently require. If you have a pricey extended cable plan or numerous streaming subscriptions, do you watch all 500 channels? Are 30 pairs of black shoes or pants really necessary? Using a budget, you can re-evaluate your spending patterns and re-focus your financial objectives.
Depending on the person, there are several justifications for having a budget. A budget can frequently aid in achieving financial freedom and independence. A budget is essential for maintaining financial management since it may help you reach your financial objectives, live within your means, save for retirement, accumulate emergency funds, and analyze your spending patterns.
My wish is for everyone to have a budget.
GOD ABEG 2