{"id":26595,"date":"2024-06-07T06:01:22","date_gmt":"2024-06-07T10:01:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/?p=26595"},"modified":"2025-05-14T12:05:27","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T16:05:27","slug":"budget-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/budget-help\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build a Bulletproof Budget (in 5 simple steps)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"26595\" class=\"elementor elementor-26595\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3ba0e83 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"3ba0e83\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-60ebf0e\" data-id=\"60ebf0e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8940917 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8940917\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Even after more than 20 years of sharing my philosophy on building your Rich Life, I still run into people who need <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/conscious-spending-basics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">help with their budget<\/a>. They typically fall into two categories:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>They don&#8217;t know how to build a budget.<\/li>\n<li>They don&#8217;t know how much money they&#8217;re spending each month.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For example, I tweeted this:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:html --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:shortcode --><!-- \/wp:shortcode --><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pixiebrix-notifier-container\" style=\"all: initial;\">\n<div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad3288b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ad3288b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"481\" src=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1Banners_and_Alerts_and_Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__-768x481.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-49253\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1Banners_and_Alerts_and_Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__-768x481.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1Banners_and_Alerts_and_Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1Banners_and_Alerts_and_Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__-1024x641.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1Banners_and_Alerts_and_Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__.jpg 1242w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c297545 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c297545\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The answers I received were fascinating:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6472ec6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6472ec6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"188\" src=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/2Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__-768x188.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-26594\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/2Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__-768x188.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/2Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__-300x74.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/2Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__-1024x251.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/2Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d47cd40 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d47cd40\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"188\" src=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/3Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__-768x188.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-26591\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/3Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__-768x188.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/3Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__-300x73.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/3Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__-1024x250.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/3Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__.jpg 1252w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05b0acb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"05b0acb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"159\" src=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__-768x159.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-26592\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__-768x159.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__-300x62.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__-1024x213.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Ramit_Sethi_on_Twitter___If_you_don_t_keep_a_budget__or_a_conscious_spending_plan___why_not__No_judgment__I_just_want_to_hear_your_perspective__.jpg 1272w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3d8651 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e3d8651\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>What do you notice about the responses? Some common themes are fear, laziness, confusion, and even anger.<\/p>\n<p>If that sounds familiar to you, that\u2019s okay! I\u2019m here to help you.<\/p>\n<p>In this guide, I&#8217;ll walk you through how to build a bulletproof budget in 5 simple steps.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9029094 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9029094\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why you need help with your budget<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9dd66df elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9dd66df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>When people think budgeting, images of their parents studiously going over receipts, writing down expenses in a notebook, and screaming, &#8220;WHY DID WE SPEND SO MUCH ON GAS LAST WEEK?&#8221; come to mind.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>That might have worked for them, but it doesn&#8217;t work now.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How many times have you opened your bills, winced, then shrugged and said, I guess I spent that much?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How often do you feel guilty about buying something but do it anyway?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>This is unconscious spending (aka spreadsheet budgeting).<\/p>\n<p>The main issue with it is simple: Human willpower.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eae5e22 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"eae5e22\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/northfolk-Ok76F6yW2iA-unsplash-768x432.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-85677\" alt=\"budget plans\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/northfolk-Ok76F6yW2iA-unsplash-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/northfolk-Ok76F6yW2iA-unsplash-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/northfolk-Ok76F6yW2iA-unsplash-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/northfolk-Ok76F6yW2iA-unsplash-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/northfolk-Ok76F6yW2iA-unsplash-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e19e7d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e19e7d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Who wants to track their spending? The few people who actually try it find that their budgets completely fail after two days because tracking every penny is overwhelming.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-767a342 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"767a342\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Alternative budget-building tips<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d9db82 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9d9db82\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I&#8217;m going to introduce you to a new, simple way of spending.<\/p>\n<p>You&#8217;ll learn how to redirect your finances to the aspects of your life you choose, like investing, saving, and even spending more on the things you love (and how to spend less on the things you don\u2019t).<\/p>\n<p>This is going to be the foundation of your\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/conscious-spending-basics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Conscious Spending Plan<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0b05b8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e0b05b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1. Know where your money is going <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49a6a70 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"49a6a70\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>You know your money matters are out of whack when it feels like you\u2019re starring in Macklemore\u2019s Thrift Shop music video. When there is simply too much a month for your paycheck, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019re not aware of what your lifestyle actually costs.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s time to sit down and categorize your spending into four buckets.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fixed costs\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Investments\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Savings\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Guilt-free spending\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Now, you\u2019re going to see me talk about these four categories a lot because all your expenses are contained in these categories. When you can pinpoint what belongs where, you\u2019ll quickly start to understand where the gaps in your financial plan are.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>For instance, if you\u2019re spending $500 per month on guilt-free items and nothing on savings or investments, is it really guilt-free spending? Or, if you have a fixed costs bill of $5,000, but your net income is $5,000, you might have a lifestyle you can\u2019t afford.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Investments and savings are easy to tally up, but you need to go through your fixed costs and guilt-free spending categories to see whether you\u2019re overspending.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-355b563 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"355b563\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Fixed costs examples <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36fdef6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"36fdef6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>To make sure the money goes where it needs to, you need to complete your fixed costs category first. You also need to allocate funds to this category first.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"background-color: #f5eee4; color: #000000;\">There are four major components that you simply can\u2019t eliminate completely. They\u2019re housing, utilities, food, and transport.<\/p>\n<p style=\"background-color: #f5eee4; color: #000000;\">Other items in this category include internet costs, education, healthcare, debt repayments, insurance, and other expenses that pop up every month without fail.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re living paycheck to paycheck, this is also the area you want to comb through to make sure you\u2019re not paying for things you don\u2019t actually need or want.<\/p>\n<p>You may find moving to a cheaper apartment or selling a car might allow you to breathe a little easier month-to-month, but the cutting needs to make sense to you. What does it help to save $100 on rent every month only to spend $100 extra on traveling?\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06517e6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"06517e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is guilt-free spending? <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ef6a1c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7ef6a1c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>These are expenses like subscription services, endless cups of Starbucks, expensive shoes, dining out, etc. Now, just to be clear, just because we have this as a category doesn\u2019t mean you have to allocate money to it.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re scraping the peanut butter jar so badly that you\u2019re starting to get plastic shavings on your sandwich, it might be time to clear up some fixed expenses first.<\/p>\n<p>In\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/90-money-coaching\/\">episode 90 of my podcast<\/a>, I discuss how to stick to your spending plan and navigate money guilt:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f35f841 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"f35f841\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/JDMIZegZ6ik&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c38e25f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"c38e25f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9604546\" data-id=\"9604546\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ef9a87 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7ef9a87\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2. Build your budgeting systems\u00a0<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10a7b2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"10a7b2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Have you ever caught yourself saying things like I&#8217;ll get that on payday or wait until next week when I have my paycheck? If a major expense falls in the middle of the month, who has money at that time? People who know where their money goes do! (You can read my guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/how-to-make-expensive-purchases\/\">making expensive purchases<\/a>\u00a0for more tips.)<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>That may seem a little harsh, but it&#8217;s not meant to be. You can be the person who doesn&#8217;t panic when a surprise event comes up any time of the month.<\/p>\n<p>The only difference payday makes is it&#8217;s the day a significant payment lands in your account. If that money isn&#8217;t carefully allocated into different categories, you&#8217;ll eat into money meant for savings and investments.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>So, how do you get off this slippery slope?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b199606 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b199606\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Allocate sub-accounts in your savings <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e48aa6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2e48aa6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>While I\u2019m big on investments, I also know the value of saving for short-term goals. Chucking everything into one account with no clear direction is like throwing a mixed laundry load into the washing machine on a hot cycle. You never know when your whites are going to turn pink.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Your savings account should have sub-categories that allow you to save for your various needs. For instance:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Emergency fund: Ideally, you\u2019ll have at least 3-6 months\u2019 worth of fixed-cost expenses saved in an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/emergency-fund\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">emergency fund<\/a>. But if you\u2019re really ambitious, go for one year. A solid emergency fund can ease potential hardship.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Gifting and birthdays: If your budget is tight, it\u2019s important that you budget birthdays and gifting ahead of time. \u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Car service and maintenance: If you don\u2019t have a motor plan, you need to put money away for services, maintenance matters such as tires, and car-related things that might pop up. You don\u2019t want to dip into emergency savings for predictable expenses.<\/li>\n<li>Big deposits: Think major expenses like vacations, a wedding, or a down payment on a home.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Many banks allow you to open these sub-accounts to categorize your money at no extra charge and still offer to pay some interest on it.<\/p>\n<p>It might take you some time to set this up, but guess what, when it\u2019s done, you don\u2019t have to think about it again until you need to use it.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/best-savings-account\/\">Here are the savings accounts that we recommend<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 I\u2019m not affiliated with them in any way, but I use them and like them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ce8c9b9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"ce8c9b9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f49a038\" data-id=\"f49a038\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cb55a45 elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_blockquote\" data-id=\"cb55a45\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-blockquote qodef-layout--top qodef--\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"qodef-m-text\">\n\t\t\tBudgeting is unsustainable. Start \u201cConscious Spending\u201d instead.\n\t\t<\/h4>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f5acf0c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f5acf0c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As seen on the <a class=\"notion-link-token notion-focusable-token notion-enable-hover\" tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/podcast\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-token-index=\"1\"><span class=\"link-annotation-unknown-block-id-1030816302\">IWT podcast<\/span><\/a>, the Conscious Spending Plan helps you buy the things you love, guilt-free.<!-- notionvc: c1246e7e-88a9-4162-a449-a011c517ffd9 --><br \/><!-- notionvc: 4d9a2be7-96ed-44c7-b234-c56414b4aec8 --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-296c4a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_wp_forms\" data-id=\"296c4a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_wp_forms.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-wp-forms\">\n\t<div class=\"wpforms-container wpforms-container-full\" id=\"wpforms-53456\"><form id=\"wpforms-form-53456\" class=\"wpforms-validate wpforms-form wpforms-ajax-form\" data-formid=\"53456\" method=\"post\" enctype=\"multipart\/form-data\" action=\"\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26595\" data-token=\"5ee4e4a28d3c29331199a7b3d273bef0\" data-token-time=\"1779987658\"><noscript class=\"wpforms-error-noscript\">Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.<\/noscript><div class=\"wpforms-field-container\"><div id=\"wpforms-53456-field_18-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"18\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53456-field_18\" name=\"wpforms[fields][18]\" value=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/c-conscious-spending-plan\/\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53456-field_1-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"1\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53456-field_1\" name=\"wpforms[fields][1]\" value=\"34.92.157.226\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53456-field_2-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"2\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53456-field_2\" name=\"wpforms[fields][2]\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53456-field_3-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"3\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53456-field_3\" name=\"wpforms[fields][3]\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53456-field_4-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"4\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53456-field_4\" name=\"wpforms[fields][4]\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53456-field_5-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"5\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53456-field_5\" name=\"wpforms[fields][5]\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53456-field_6-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"6\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53456-field_6\" name=\"wpforms[fields][6]\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53456-field_7-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"7\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53456-field_7\" name=\"wpforms[fields][7]\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53456-field_12-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"12\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53456-field_12\" name=\"wpforms[fields][12]\" value=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26595\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53456-field_13-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"13\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53456-field_13\" name=\"wpforms[fields][13]\" value=\"53456\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53456-field_15-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"15\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53456-field_15\" name=\"wpforms[fields][15]\" value=\" \/ Conscious Spending Plan\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53456-field_14-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"14\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53456-field_14\" name=\"wpforms[fields][14]\" value=\"{entry_page}\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53456-field_10-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-name\" data-field-type=\"name\" data-field-id=\"10\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label wpforms-label-hide\" for=\"wpforms-53456-field_10\">First Name <span class=\"wpforms-required-label\">*<\/span><\/label><input type=\"text\" id=\"wpforms-53456-field_10\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium wpforms-field-required\" name=\"wpforms[fields][10]\" placeholder=\"First Name\" required><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53456-field_11-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-email\" data-field-type=\"email\" data-field-id=\"11\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label wpforms-label-hide\" for=\"wpforms-53456-field_11\">Email <span class=\"wpforms-required-label\">*<\/span><\/label><input type=\"email\" id=\"wpforms-53456-field_11\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium wpforms-field-required\" data-rule-restricted-email=\"1\" name=\"wpforms[fields][11]\" placeholder=\"Email Address\" spellcheck=\"false\" required><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53456-field_19-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-html\" data-field-type=\"html\" data-field-id=\"19\"><div id=\"wpforms-53456-field_19\">When you sign up, I'm also going to send you my newsletter full of my best money advice for free.<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- .wpforms-field-container --><div class=\"wpforms-submit-container\" ><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"wpforms[id]\" value=\"53456\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page_title\" value=\"\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page_url\" value=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26595\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"url_referer\" value=\"http:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/budget-help\/\"><button type=\"submit\" name=\"wpforms[submit]\" id=\"wpforms-submit-53456\" class=\"wpforms-submit\" data-alt-text=\"Sending...\" data-submit-text=\"Send me the plan (free)\" aria-live=\"assertive\" value=\"wpforms-submit\">Send me the plan (free)<\/button><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/wpforms\/assets\/images\/submit-spin.svg\" class=\"wpforms-submit-spinner\" style=\"display: none;\" width=\"26\" height=\"26\" alt=\"Loading\"><\/div><\/form><\/div>  <!-- .wpforms-container --><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ef0c974 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"ef0c974\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c13c99e\" data-id=\"c13c99e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d425a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3d425a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Automate your finances\u00a0<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf56ac1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bf56ac1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>This is a big one.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/automate-your-finances\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Automating your personal finances<\/a>\u00a0is a game-changer for both spending and saving. It has several benefits including:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It takes the fear of the unknown out of your finances\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>You don&#8217;t have to spend a ton of time on your finances (increasing the chances that you&#8217;ll actually stick to a system)<\/li>\n<li>You&#8217;re able to identify holes or money traps in your budget\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>It helps you build good financial habits\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>You can automate your finances to such an extent that you simply have to give your bank accounts a glance over once in a while to make sure things are still running as they should.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Every single thing that needs to be paid, can be automated. Let&#8217;s have a look:\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Credit cards:<\/b>\u00a0Set up your credit card to have the balance auto-paid every month from your checking account.\u00a0Settling the balance in full every month is an important step in money management and will do wonders for your budget. Not only will you save on interest, but it also boosts your credit score if you manage to keep your usage to no more than 30%. Automatic payments also ensure that the card is paid on time, every time. The importance of this extends beyond your relationship with the credit card. It can also influence future financial products like buying a house.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><b>Investments<\/b>: Instruct your company\u00a0or investment firm to automatically withdraw a certain amount from your bank or every paycheck for your\u00a0retirement accounts. Your goal is to automate your finances to such an extent that you&#8217;ve maxed out your allowable contributions to these accounts before moving on to other investment types such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/how-to-invest-in-index-funds\/\">index funds<\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><b>Savings<\/b>: Predetermining your savings and setting up an auto-transfer to your savings pockets will free up time and will make you less inclined to spend the money before you save it. There will always be something to save for, even if you&#8217;ve reached the limit to your emergency savings.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><b>Utilities<\/b>: You can set up autopay with most utility companies online. You know your utilities are up to date, you simply need to check the statement to make sure the amounts don&#8217;t differ. Other than that, you can set it and forget it.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Want to learn more about automating your finances? Check out my instructional video below:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><!-- wp:shortcode --><!-- \/wp:shortcode --><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d05bcfd elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"d05bcfd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/tE1s4Eg6SCE&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e5b4aec elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e5b4aec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">3. Cut mercilessly on things you don't love or need<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74a6780 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"74a6780\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t like watching TV? Cancel the Netflix subscription. What about the gym subscription? Is it possible for you to get the same results at home?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Now move on to things that are a little more serious. Let&#8217;s talk about your property, for instance. There is a truckload of other expenses that you need to consider when buying a property. You&#8217;re not just going to have a long-term mortgage.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Before you even own the house, you need to have the down payment, closing costs, and reserves on hand. While the down payment and reserves are in your best interest, it may take time to build it up.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Ongoing costs to consider include HOA costs, insurance, property taxes, maintenance, and utilities. Now, ask yourself whether you&#8217;re still okay with it, or whether you might just be better off renting until you&#8217;re 100% sure you want to settle in a specific location.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Now, this might be an unpopular opinion, but owning a house is not the be-all and end-all our parents made it out to be. It&#8217;s damn expensive and you need to be financially secure enough to take it on. It&#8217;s not for everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>You may not want to cut out everyday items that you love, like lattes and dinners out with friends, but if you can make cuts on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/how-to-buy-a-house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">major expenses like housing<\/a>, that&#8217;s a huge win.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05ad259 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"05ad259\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-xl\"><b>The world wants you to be vanilla...\n<\/b><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8acb3b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8acb3b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u2026but you don\u2019t have to take the same path as everyone else. How would it look if you designed a Rich Life on your own terms? Take our quiz and find out: \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d02c7c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"d02c7c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/rich-life-quiz\/\u00a0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Take the Quiz<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4ae247ff elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"4ae247ff\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4f4c5297\" data-id=\"4f4c5297\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-294c3de elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"294c3de\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">4. Increase spending on the stuff that matters<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6527e35f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6527e35f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;\">Don&#8217;t let anyone tell you you&#8217;re wasting money if spending it on things that matter to you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;\">When you&#8217;ve done your bit and allocated money to all the other categories and you have money left over, it&#8217;s your prerogative to spend it how you want. Do you like $1,000 shoes? If you can afford them and it matters to you, then it belongs in your guilt-free spending category.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;\">When you&#8217;re doing this right and you&#8217;ve allocated what you need to in the other categories, imagine getting the figure up to 30% or even 40% of your take-home pay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, staying fashionable matters to me, so <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I hired <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nextlevelwardrobe.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Next Level Wardrobe<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as my personal stylist for events and day-to-day clothes. Most people would consider spending extra money to dress themselves up as outrageous, but dressing well is part of my Rich Life and I don\u2019t feel guilty about it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71f3630 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"71f3630\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Ramit-Next-Level-Wardrobe-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-108330\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Ramit-Next-Level-Wardrobe-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Ramit-Next-Level-Wardrobe-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Ramit-Next-Level-Wardrobe-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Ramit-Next-Level-Wardrobe-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Ramit-Next-Level-Wardrobe-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ecc88a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4ecc88a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">5. Boost your income <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-caac8f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"caac8f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Money isn\u2019t everything, but if you like to live a life of experiences, it\u2019s hard to be broke. So, how do you strike a balance between your top-heavy budget and some fun money?<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve already gone through the culling discussed in step 3, don\u2019t reduce your savings or investments. Instead, look for ways to boost your income. Knowing how to make a budget is knowing how to make your money work for you.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4fdb992 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4fdb992\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ask for a raise<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d81d387 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d81d387\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When was the last time you had a raise? If it was last year after a performance review and it didn\u2019t even compete with inflation, it\u2019s time to start doing the math. A raise today could lead to more\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/average-retirement-savings\/\">retirement savings<\/a>, higher future salaries, a bigger dent in your debt, and more fun money.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s worth the discussion and if you follow my\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/salary-negotiation\/\">negotiation steps<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0you might just be looking at a dream salary.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If you can\u2019t increase your salary at your current job, why not pursue a new job at a salary that matches your experience? Who knows, instead of a tiny increase, you might be looking at a salary hop of a couple of thousand dollars per year.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16a60d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"16a60d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Negotiate your financial and non-financial products <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc68d95 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dc68d95\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>You can reduce your fixed costs spending category in a matter of minutes simply by picking up the phone.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s start with banks. There is a wide variety of products they offer and each one is either designed to keep their liquidity high (savings accounts) or earn them the big dollars (by offering credit with interest).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>You can either spend time negotiating half a percentage on your small savings account, or you can tackle big-ticket items. For starters, if your mortgage is at a high interest rate, check out the pros and cons of refinancing.<\/p>\n<p>Just make sure that if you go down this route, that the lender doesn\u2019t hit you with processing fees.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Checking accounts and credit cards are two other products that can do with a price check. If you\u2019re paying monthly or annual fees, it\u2019s time to call them and bring that figure down.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But there are other areas you can save.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Internet service providers typically onboard new customers at a lower rate. Ask them to lower your monthly to retain you as a loyal customer.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Gym membership fees. Depending on the club and the length of time you\u2019ve been with them, ask them to see if there\u2019s a way to cut down on the fees.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fdfbef3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fdfbef3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Start a side hustle <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-83e6c41 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"83e6c41\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A side hustle can be a great way to boost your income, especially if you start out with a low-overhead hustle like&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/best-online-business-ideas\/\">an online business<\/a>. It might take you a couple of months to start making money, but it can pay big dividends in the long run.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Now,&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/side-hustle-ideas\/\">figuring out which side hustle to start<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;is easier than you think. Think about the skills you bring to the table, to start.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Side hustles that require very little startup cash, if any, include freelance writing, design work, or a drop shipping store.&nbsp;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-132797a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"132797a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Budgeting FAQs<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ffe76fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ffe76fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How should a beginner budget? <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c59871 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3c59871\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It all starts with the basics. Know exactly how much is coming in and how much is going out. You may have to write it down until it becomes second nature. Then, you follow the steps above which include financial automation and conscious spending.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3129218 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3129218\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What are the 50\/20\/30 and 70\/20\/10 budget rules? <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e866de8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e866de8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The 50\/20\/30 rule is a budget guideline that states 50% of your after-tax income should go towards commitments and obligatory expenses. Then 20% on savings and debt repayments and the remaining 30% on everything else.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The 70\/20\/10 states that 70% should go towards expenses, 20% on savings, and 10% on giving.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>While these are handy when you\u2019re still trying to figure things out, it\u2019s important that you find a ratio that works for you. The goal is simple, decrease your debt, increase your savings and investments, and allow yourself some guilt-free spending.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d2207d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6d2207d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is the envelope system? <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4864644 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4864644\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The idea is that you have an envelope for each payment category. So you\u2019d have one for your housing, one for utilities, another for food, and so on.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/envelope-system\/\">Great envelope systems<\/a>\u00a0include investments and savings too.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>However, technology has shown us that everything is easier when you automate it. Apps like Fudget and Monefy are great for those who wish to use the envelope system. This allows you to stay on top of your obligations, have a proactive approach to budgeting, and not overspend.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c912c2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c912c2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Summary<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e97499b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e97499b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A budget is not a spreadsheet. It\u2019s a proactive approach to your finances and allows you the financial freedom to meet your financial obligations and commitments.<\/p>\n<p>It also allows your money to work for you and buy you great life experiences and the rich life you desire, all while building up the financial foundation for future you.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b7e5bed elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"b7e5bed\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a250c17\" data-id=\"a250c17\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3dc2a73 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"3dc2a73\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\">\t\t<section data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"106510\" class=\"elementor elementor-106510\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-51156e1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"51156e1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4e992b0\" data-id=\"4e992b0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-1b51f67 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"1b51f67\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-fa237b9\" data-id=\"fa237b9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b341c44 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b341c44\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-large\">If you like this post, you'd love my Ultimate Guide to Personal Finance<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ccbe91b elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ccbe91b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"193\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/UG-to-Personal-Finance-ts-193x300.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-106717\" alt=\"UG to Personal Finance\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/UG-to-Personal-Finance-ts-193x300.png 193w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/UG-to-Personal-Finance-ts.png 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 193px) 100vw, 193px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5130b32 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5130b32\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It&#8217;s one of the best things I&#8217;ve published (and 100% free), just tell me where to send it:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85bbeee elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_wp_forms\" data-id=\"85bbeee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_wp_forms.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-wp-forms\">\n\t<div class=\"wpforms-container wpforms-container-full\" id=\"wpforms-53563\"><form id=\"wpforms-form-53563\" class=\"wpforms-validate wpforms-form\" data-formid=\"53563\" method=\"post\" enctype=\"multipart\/form-data\" action=\"\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26595\" data-token=\"616c9873956056bb406a67057db9d712\" data-token-time=\"1779987658\"><noscript class=\"wpforms-error-noscript\">Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.<\/noscript><div class=\"wpforms-field-container\"><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_18-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"18\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53563-field_18\" name=\"wpforms[fields][18]\" value=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/c-ultimate-guide-to-personal-finance\/\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_1-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"1\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53563-field_1\" name=\"wpforms[fields][1]\" value=\"34.92.157.226\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_2-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"2\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53563-field_2\" name=\"wpforms[fields][2]\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_3-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"3\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53563-field_3\" name=\"wpforms[fields][3]\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_4-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"4\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53563-field_4\" name=\"wpforms[fields][4]\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_5-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"5\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53563-field_5\" name=\"wpforms[fields][5]\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_6-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"6\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53563-field_6\" name=\"wpforms[fields][6]\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_7-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"7\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53563-field_7\" name=\"wpforms[fields][7]\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_12-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"12\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53563-field_12\" name=\"wpforms[fields][12]\" value=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26595\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_13-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"13\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53563-field_13\" name=\"wpforms[fields][13]\" value=\"53563\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_15-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"15\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53563-field_15\" name=\"wpforms[fields][15]\" value=\" \/ UG to Personal Finance\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_14-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-hidden\" data-field-type=\"hidden\" data-field-id=\"14\"><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"wpforms-53563-field_14\" name=\"wpforms[fields][14]\" value=\"{entry_page}\"><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_20-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-html\" data-field-type=\"html\" data-field-id=\"20\"><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_20\"><strong>If you like this post, you'd love my Ultimate Guide to Personal Finance<\/strong><\/div><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_21-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-html\" data-field-type=\"html\" data-field-id=\"21\"><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_21\">It\u2019s one of the best things I\u2019ve published (and 100% free), just tell me where to send it:<\/div><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_10-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-name\" data-field-type=\"name\" data-field-id=\"10\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label wpforms-label-hide\" for=\"wpforms-53563-field_10\">First Name <span class=\"wpforms-required-label\">*<\/span><\/label><input type=\"text\" id=\"wpforms-53563-field_10\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium wpforms-field-required\" name=\"wpforms[fields][10]\" placeholder=\"First Name\" required><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_11-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-email\" data-field-type=\"email\" data-field-id=\"11\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label wpforms-label-hide\" for=\"wpforms-53563-field_11\">Email <span class=\"wpforms-required-label\">*<\/span><\/label><input type=\"email\" id=\"wpforms-53563-field_11\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium wpforms-field-required\" data-rule-restricted-email=\"1\" name=\"wpforms[fields][11]\" placeholder=\"Email Address\" spellcheck=\"false\" required><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_19-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-html\" data-field-type=\"html\" data-field-id=\"19\"><div id=\"wpforms-53563-field_19\">Along with the guide, I'll also send you my Insiders newsletter where I share other exclusive content that's not on the blog.<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- .wpforms-field-container --><div class=\"wpforms-submit-container\" ><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"wpforms[id]\" value=\"53563\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page_title\" value=\"\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page_url\" value=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26595\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"url_referer\" value=\"http:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/budget-help\/\"><button type=\"submit\" name=\"wpforms[submit]\" id=\"wpforms-submit-53563\" class=\"wpforms-submit\" data-alt-text=\"Sending...\" data-submit-text=\"Send me the guide!\" aria-live=\"assertive\" value=\"wpforms-submit\">Send me the guide!<\/button><\/div><\/form><\/div>  <!-- .wpforms-container --><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-fd482ad elementor-hidden-mobile\" data-id=\"fd482ad\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cb86639 elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cb86639\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"610\" height=\"950\" src=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/UG-to-Personal-Finance-ts.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-106717\" alt=\"UG to Personal Finance\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/UG-to-Personal-Finance-ts.png 610w, https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/UG-to-Personal-Finance-ts-193x300.png 193w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ramit gives you the very best budget help with an automated system. This is the alternative to typical budgeting. This is a system thatll last. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":97301,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"class_list":["post-26595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-personal-finance"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"modified_by":"ljknoll95@gmail.com","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26595","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26595"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26595\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/97301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}