Indiana MoneyWise September 2014 | Page 8

Budgeting as a

It's a team sport

Budgeting is one of the most fundamental marriage advice notes, yet few people actually do it. You may have separate budgets that have worked well for you individually, but now it is time to create a new one that fits your “we” lifestyle.

To some, the word “budget” conjures up thoughts of penny-pinching and crunching numbers. In reality, financial marriage advice experts say that a budget is the cornerstone of a solid financial foundation. Thankfully, creating a budget really isn’t that hard to do.

Budgeting involves knowing how much money you earn and spend over a period of time. When you create a budget, you are creating a plan for spending and saving money. Why do financial marriage advice experts say that budgeting is important? It will help you save money, stay out of debt and pay your bills on time! But most importantly, it will keep you and your spouse on the same page and focused on your financial future as a couple.

Creating a budget is just the first step! After setting up a budget that you can both agree on, financial marriage advice experts urge you need to stick to it. Create a master copy of the planned budget and then create a copy for each of you to fill in what is actually being spent in each category throughout the month. At the end of the month, plan a budget meeting to review your spending habits and make changes where needed. Understand that no one is “budget perfect,” but must work together to stay on track!

Couple