Don’t skip Step 1: cleaning up and minimizing your expenses. Just like reorganizing a house, it’s much easier to make changes to your budget once you’ve cleared the clutter. Need a hand? Start with Budget Basics, Part 1: Spending Analysis.
The big picture
A budget has two parts: income (money in) and expenses (money out). We like to work monthly, since it matches how most bills arrive.
Step 1: Add up your monthly income
Income can include pay, government benefits, spousal support, and so on. Convert each source to a monthly amount, then add them together. That’s what you have to work with.
- Paid every two weeks: take-home pay × 26 ÷ 12
- Paid weekly: take-home pay × 52 ÷ 12
- Paid twice a month: take-home pay × 2
Step 2: Map out your expenses
Your bank and credit card statements are the easiest place to start. Expenses tend to fall into three groups:
- Regular bills (rent, car payment, phone). Use the same conversions as above if they come out bi-weekly or weekly.
- Occasional expenses (clothing, kids’ activities, birthdays, holidays). These are easy to forget and hard to budget for monthly. Estimate the yearly cost and divide by 12. For example, $600 a year per child for coats, shoes and outfits is $600 ÷ 12 = $50/month.
- Variable spending (groceries, eating out, alcohol). These fluctuate, so look at a few months of statements and average them. Or take a “normal” weekly spend and multiply by 52 ÷ 12. Be generous here, because coffees and drinks out add up more than most of us expect.
What’s left over
Ideally, you’ll have some money left after your expenses. Put it to work in two ways:
- Short-term savings (emergency fund): it’s smart to have a little extra on hand during your first few budget cycles to cover surprises and forgotten expenses. Keep it in a high-interest savings account, where it’s accessible but still earning. Aim for $50 or more a month- over the course of a year this can build up to $600 and help avoid using credit to cover surprises.
- Long-term savings: RESPs, TFSAs, FHSAs and RRSPs build over many years. Which to prioritize depends on your age and goals. Consider things like interest rates, accessibility, and matching components.
Plan to pay into savings every month. This is called paying yourself first. Compound interest, and in some cases government matching, will help your savings grow, and your future self will thank you.
What if the budget comes up short?
If expenses are higher than income, look at trimming the flexible items first: clothing, online subscriptions, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and eating out are the easiest places to start.
Make it realistic
Before you call it done, ask yourself whether you can really live with it. A $300 grocery budget for a family of four is a tough sell. And going months or years with zero discretionary spending often falls apart after a stretch of living like a monk. A budget you can stick to beats a perfect one you abandon.
What’s next?
Your budget looks good and the numbers feel right. Now, how do you use it in real life? Stay tuned for our next post on envelope budgeting and emergency funds.