We all have our list of dreaded tasks. Chances are, you’ve been putting them off for weeks, maybe even months or years. Me? I was avoiding giving my emails a "face lift". I was panicking over colors. Will they like the layout? Will my fonts carry over? I got over my bullsh*t and created one anyways. Do you know how long it took me? Less than an hour.
Finances were like this for me at one point in time. I dreaded looking at my budget because it didn’t work for me. It was too rigid. I would start the same way each time: write out predictable expenses, throw in some grocery money (surely I won’t need more than $300), and at the very end, put some fun money in. What happened when I went over in one area? IMMEDIATE GUILT. I couldn’t bring myself to look at my budget because I felt like a failure. This lead to more spending. Then, I would get strict with myself and sit down to write out the budget again. I would swear I wouldn’t overspend. Wash, rinse, repeat. It was like a restrictive diet.
Does this sound like you? The good news is, budgets are most successful when they are flexible AND include plenty of room for fun and mistakes. You heard me. I finally broke the guilt cycle and found a method that has worked for me since 2014. I became a Certified Budget Coach and now teach this method to all of my clients (and really, anyone who will listen to me).
I decided that I needed a break. I’ve been working nonstop between being a mom and a small business owner. So today I’m headed to a local hot spring with my boyfriend. When I made this decision, guess what happened?
I FELT GUILTY. Surely I could spend this extra money on marketing, new clothes for my toddler, or anything else. Do I deserve something so nice? You guys, I started the guilt cycle again! (See, no one is perfect). The cure? I planned for it. I moved money around in the budget and it’s completely covered. It won’t go on the credit card in the hopes that I can pay it off. It’s paid in cash now. What suffered? A little from my Christmas budget, a little from my clothing budget, and some from dining out. The guilt is gone, and now I can enjoy this beautiful view.
The lesson from my weekend? QUIT BEATING YOURSELF UP. Life is unpredictable. You simply cannot plan for everything. However, that’s not an excuse to bury your head in the sand. Take a look at those finances today, and rip off that band-aid.
What are you putting off? Comment below and let me know I’m not the only one who does this. Also, if you want to know more about my budget method, reach out to me by clicking below.
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