How to trick yourself into sticking to a budget

How to trick yourself into sticking to a budgetHow to trick yourself into sticking to a budgetBudgeting and money management is not an innate skill that were born with. Yes, some people are naturally more disciplined and organized than others, but that doesnt mean theyre always great with money. However, even if money matters elude you, you can still take control of your finances to put yourself in a healthy situation and build a good life. Sometimes, doing that requires you to trick yourself into it. No one approach works for everyone, but some of these tips might work for youGet clear on your numbersThe first step to financial success is always to figure out where youre starting from. You cant implement a budget or new habits if you dont do this first. Figure out how much money you have coming in every month, and get clear on how much money absolutely needs to go out. This includes things like rent, utilities, student loans, etc. Whatever is leftover can be allocated into your spen ding budget, savings goals, and extra debt payments. Once youre clear on these numbers, you can create your budget and set up tools to help you stick to it.AutomateAutomation is key when it comes to financial management. It removes human error from the equation by taking the action for you. That way, you cant forget or actively avoid paying your bills or building up your savings. Set up auto-pay for your utilities, credit cards, and subscriptions. Make aya you keep track of when these payments are due so that you always have enough money in your bank account to cover them. You should also automate any savings youre able to contribute to. Set up your 401k deduction with your employer, and make sure a portion of your paycheck deposits directly into your savings account(s).Set up a spending accountOne of the more genius ideas Ive heard of is opening a checking account that is allocated specifically for everyday spending. Then there is a separate checking account that covers bills, like rent and other expenses. In this scenario, you would set up your paycheck direct deposit to split into the two accounts based on your bills and your spending budget. Ideally, you would leave your bills debit card at home and only use the debit card that goes with your spending account. Once you groe nachfrage out of money, you have to wait until you get paid next. That can be a motivating factor in keeping your spending down as the weeks go by. It also makes it so that youll never accidentally spend the money that you need to pay your bills.Use cash onlyMaybe youve heard of the envelope method of budgeting. Basically, it means that you set a budget for each spending category each month. Then you put the cash for each amount in an envelope dedicated to that specific category. You only use cash for spending, and once you run out in one area, youre done spending on that category. Another, simpler approach is to take out cash at the beginning of each week and use it on your everyday sp ending until its gone. Once its gone, you cant spend more money until the next week starts. This can be painful, but it will show you where you tend to overspendUse apps that move your money for youIf you know you wont save or invest money on your own, take advantage of all the great apps out there that will do it for you, likeAcorns,Digit,Qapital,Qoinsand more. Many of these apps will use a round-up method to put small amounts of the everyday money that you spend into a savings or investment account. If that approach doesnt appeal to you, you can also choose the exact amount that these apps move for you each month.I have a client who usesDigitnot just for saving money, but for setting money aside for rent during the month. She used to find herself strapped for cash and stressed out at the end of the month when rent was due. Then she set up Digit to pull half of her rent from her mid-month paycheck so that she wouldnt spend it without realizing. The app holds the money in a separate account until its due. Now, at the end of the month, she always has enough money to pay her rent and doesnt have to worry about it.Disconnect your cards from online accountsHave you ever made a purchase on Amazon without even thinking about it because your debit or credit card information was already programmed in? Youre not alone. This convenience makes it much easier to spend money impulsively. If you had to stop and type in your credit card number everytime you wanted to make a purchase, youd probably be more discerning. So disconnect your cards so that you have to think twice about that purchase.Delete apps from your phoneHave you ever deleted the Twitter or Facebook app from your phone so that you wouldnt use them so much? This helpful approach can also apply to shopping apps. I once had a client who would open up the Sephora app on her phone when she was bored. This immediately led to her buying makeup that she didnt need and couldnt afford. I suggested that she delete the ap p from her phone to remove the temptation, and within days, she realized she had no urge to buy from Sephora anymore. Figure out your most tempting app and delete it from your phone. See how your impulse spending changes afterwards.Budgeting is not a one-size-fits-all system. What works for you might not work for someone else. Its important to know yourself and your habits so that you can know exactly what you need to trick yourself into sticking to a budget. So, what kinds of tricks would help you?Thisarticlewas originally posted on MaggieGermano.com.MaggieGermanois a feminist and financial coach for women. She helps women improve their relationship with money so they can take control of their financial future. She does this through one-on-one financial coaching, workshops, writing, and speaking engagements. She also foundedMoney Circle, which is a stahlkammer space for women to talk about money without feeling judged. Its a way to create community and openness around personal fina nce. Passionate about many issues affecting women,Maggieis a member of theWomens Information Networkand was trained as a salary negotiation facilitator byAAUW.