NEED HELP WITH YOUR BUDGET? THESE SIMPLE TOOLS CAN HELP
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Spring is around the corner, which means there’s no better time than the present to start spring cleaning your budget. Whether you want to tighten up your finances, boost your savings, or plan for a renovation or trip, there’s no time like the present to start.
There are many factors that go into budgeting and each individual’s ability to stick with one, which is why working with a financial planner or advisor can be helpful. But, if you want to get a head start or boost your existing plan, these simple tools can help.
Clever Fox Bi-Weekly Budget Planner
This bi-weekly budget planner is for those who like hyper-organization with stickers, visuals, and handwritten notes. The planner helps you to manage all aspects of your financial life, including spending, debts, savings, and goals. The cover also comes in several colours, so you can choose one that suits your personality.
GoGirl Budget Planner & Monthly Bill Organizer
Another great planner dedicated to your finances, the GoGirl comes in various colours and features plenty of pages to help you achieve your money goals. In addition to trackers and space for budgets, this planner also includes pockets to keep your receipts organized and easily accessible for next year’s tax season.
Clever Fox Cash Envelopes for Budget System
When you pay for everything with debit or credit, it can be easy to lose track of what you’re actually spending. That’s where the envelope system comes in handy. Take money out of the bank and designate your spending into these tear- and water-resistant envelopes. They help keep you accountable and on track, plus they come with a convenient carrying pouch for easy storage.
Classic Moleskine Notebook
Sometimes, the only things you need to assemble a budget are a pen and paper. In that vein, grab a classic Moleskine notebook and track all your spending in one place. These notebooks come with dotted or ruled pages so you can keep it simple or put together a custom bullet journal. They’re also available in a variety of colours. (We like the idea of green, to correspond with money.)
The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness
Many of us think of money and budgeting as a mathematical thing. The truth is that how we spend is deeply linked to our psychology and behaviour. Enter Morgan Housel’s best-selling finance book, which explores the different ways people think about money and how we can do better with our budgets by making sense of how we use cash and credit in our personal lives.
The Wealthy Barber Returns
An oldie but a goody, David Chilton’s classic financial tome still contains the basic advice you need to boost your savings while hitting your financial goals. His techniques are simple, but they work, so long as you accept that sometimes the best way to stay on budget is to undergo some personal habit changes.
How to Spend Wisely: Teach Young Children How to Plan and Budget
This book, designed for kids aged 3 to 8, is a great way to help teach children about the difference between needs and wants. It features Hank the Hamster, whose piggy bank savings aren’t enough to cover everything he “needs” to buy. Heck, the story serves as a great reminder for us adults, too.
You Need a Budget
There are oodles of budgeting apps, but we like the mindset behind You Need a Budget (YNAB). The app asks you to assign a job to every dollar you make, helping you to be more mindful of your spending. It also considers life, allowing you to make adjustments where necessary. This app is also helpful in saving for overall expenses and planning, and shows how small savings can add up to significant changes.
You Need a Budget App, Free Trial
PocketGuard
If you tend to overspend or have multiple bank accounts to keep track of, PocketGuard is like a security guard for your wallet. Set up your account with a brief survey, then use the budget tool to stop overspending and start putting more money towards bills, debt, or lifelong dreams.
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