So the most important thing about budgeting is that you keep going. Sorry to say this, but, you’ll probably get it wrong a whole lot.
And I’m here to say that’s ok. But worst thing you could do is quit.
So I know that it’s almost summer, but let’s take a trip back in time to remember life around November and December.
Does this sound familiar?
Ever single year, we repeat the same old cycle. It’s holiday time. And there’s no short supply of parties, desserts, and snacking.
It depends on the year, sometimes I really try to stay good, and some years, I don’t even bother and just partake in all of the baked goodness.
And then like clockwork, December 26th rolls around and you start looking to the future.
I always love the excitement that comes from the approaching new year. A lot of people have methods for reviewing their year during this time. Reflecting on what worked, what didn’t.
It’s also the time for setting those new years resolutions. You think back on all of that bad behavior in your eating over the course of the last several months and you swear that this year, you’re finally going to get into shape and lose some weight.
And we know how that goes.
I know I’ve set New Years Resolutions that didn’t stick.
There’s always so much excitement about starting a new habit in the new year, but it seems like most of those habits don’t even last a week.
What gives?
And why am I talking about new years resolutions and losing weight when it’s almost summer?
Because the muscle that you use to start any new habit is the same muscle you’ll use when you’re getting started with a great budgeting habit.
People expect it to be perfect
I think the biggest obstacle you face are your own expectations.
The truth is, you want it to be perfect.
So if you’re starting out on a new diet, your plan is to enjoy a last supper where you bravely declare that this is your last hurrah! Then you eat all of your favorite things, because tomorrow it’s going to be time to get down to business.
Tomorrow comes, and you make it to about lunch time when you realize that this sucks.
But, you’ve made the commitment and you’re sticking to it. This won’t be easy, but it’ll be worth it, right?
Dinner comes along, and this sucks. But you did say that you could have that one cheat meal a week right? Maybe you should just take it now, you know, so you can stay on track.
And that’s how you officially fall off your diet.
The problem is that you’re trying to do everything at once and be perfect.
What if you only got 1% better every day
Last year, I discovered a new concept in a new book called Atomic Habits, by James Clear.
In the book he shares an idea that he found in his research. It’s the idea of only getting 1% better every day.
It really boils down to the idea that your goal is just to be better today than you were yesterday. The goal isn’t to go from 0% to 100% in one day.
In fact, that’s a recipe for failure.
You would instead benefit from instituting really small habits, one at a time. It’s just that nobody likes to do that.
1% seems too small.
1% feels like you’re leaving too much on the table.
You’re not going to get anywhere with 1%.
Are you even able to notice a 1% improvement?
But the truth is, you’ll see more improvement from just making small incremental changes each day than you would from trying to do it all on the first day and then burning out.
After a year of trying to get 1% better every day, that’s 37x better than you were before. That’s a huge improvement. Plus, you’ve devoted yourself to habits that stick so you get to keep that improvement.
What Determines Your Success
It won’t matter how well you planned or if you chose the perfect budgeting software solution.
It won’t matter how well you planned to follow through on your plan.
You will fall down, you won’t get it right.
I promise you, your ability to get back up and keep going on this is going to determine your success.
So as you’re getting started with your budget, allow yourself to not be perfect. But keep coming back to it everyday, and I know you’ll get it.
Set Realistic Expectations
So as you’re planning for that June budget, do yourself a favor and set some realistic expectations.
If you normally spend $1,000 eating out, don’t try to set it to $100. Give yourself some realistic expectations.
I’d say for that first month, your goal just needs to be to trim it down just a little.
Make sure that you survive budgeting to do it again the next month.
After a couple of months, you’re going to start getting the hang of it.
Continue Adjusting the Dials
Remember, the most important goal you can hit that first month of budgeting is to survive budgeting the first month to try it again the second month. Then, it’s to make it to the third month.
If you keep going, you’re going to have success.
It may just be that you wished success looked a little more instant.
It could be that you feel like figuring this budgeting thing out just takes way too long.
Showing Up is More Important than Your Performance
So, to sum it all up. Showing up is more important than your performance.
Creating a budget means more than the budget being a perfect snapshot of how you’ll spend your money this week.
Recording a transaction on the go means more than the one you missed.
It won’t be perfect and that’s ok.
Jared
P.S. How’s your budgeting going? Are you a budgeting ninja? Or, if you’re being honest, have you just had a hard time finding the momentum to start? That’s why I’m here, let me know how it’s going.
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