Comments on: Zero-Based Budgets for the Home: A Primer http://simplemom.net/zero-based-budgets-for-the-home/ Live simply, stay sane. Life hacks for home managers. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:13:44 +0200 hourly 1 By: Financial Baby Steps: Save up $1,000 and Become Debt-Free http://simplemom.net/zero-based-budgets-for-the-home/comment-page-1/#comment-67974 Financial Baby Steps: Save up $1,000 and Become Debt-Free Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:43:35 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=163#comment-67974 [...] written budget each month, no matter what baby step you’re on.  Our family prefers to use a zero-based budget, based on Dave’s recommendation.  Create a new budget each month; don’t make some [...] [...] written budget each month, no matter what baby step you’re on.  Our family prefers to use a zero-based budget, based on Dave’s recommendation.  Create a new budget each month; don’t make some [...]

]]> By: TuxGirl http://simplemom.net/zero-based-budgets-for-the-home/comment-page-1/#comment-67075 TuxGirl Thu, 14 Jan 2010 02:51:38 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=163#comment-67075 So, I'm just barely managing to get us on a budget right now, but I have an answer (which my mom taught me) for the question about how to handle the unexpected expenses. My parents, who have been budgeting successfully for at least 26 years have categories such as "auto maintenance" and "home maintenance" in their budget. If they knew they wanted to send me to a summer camp, they would set up a category for "summer camp". For the summer camp one, they would divide the cost of the camp by the number of months til the camp, and budget that much money for each month. For the maintenance budgets, they would add a set amount each month, at least until they had a reasonably sized buffer there. Once they had a buffer, they would decrease the amount added each month, but still add some each time. That way, if the car suddenly needed repair, or something broke in the house, they had the money in the budget to pull from. It seems to have worked, because for my entire life, my parents never had debt aside from their home mortgage. My husband so far have been trying to do the same thing, and have managed to keep our debt to just the home as well. It takes a lot of discipline, but I prefer setting that money aside when we don't need it over having to steal from savings when we do. So, I’m just barely managing to get us on a budget right now, but I have an answer (which my mom taught me) for the question about how to handle the unexpected expenses. My parents, who have been budgeting successfully for at least 26 years have categories such as “auto maintenance” and “home maintenance” in their budget. If they knew they wanted to send me to a summer camp, they would set up a category for “summer camp”. For the summer camp one, they would divide the cost of the camp by the number of months til the camp, and budget that much money for each month. For the maintenance budgets, they would add a set amount each month, at least until they had a reasonably sized buffer there. Once they had a buffer, they would decrease the amount added each month, but still add some each time. That way, if the car suddenly needed repair, or something broke in the house, they had the money in the budget to pull from.

It seems to have worked, because for my entire life, my parents never had debt aside from their home mortgage. My husband so far have been trying to do the same thing, and have managed to keep our debt to just the home as well.

It takes a lot of discipline, but I prefer setting that money aside when we don’t need it over having to steal from savings when we do.

]]> By: George http://simplemom.net/zero-based-budgets-for-the-home/comment-page-1/#comment-61314 George Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:24:51 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=163#comment-61314 If you enjoy using Excel, you may want to consider a customized Excel file that includes registers (similar to a checkbook to track your accounts), the ability to create your own categories, split transactions, create a monthly budget and view reports such as budget vs actual in a simple dashboard layout. See: http://www.georgesbudget.com/ If you enjoy using Excel, you may want to consider a customized Excel file that includes registers (similar to a checkbook to track your accounts), the ability to create your own categories, split transactions, create a monthly budget and view reports such as budget vs actual in a simple dashboard layout. See:

http://www.georgesbudget.com/

]]> By: Summer Week of Giveaways: Pear Budget http://simplemom.net/zero-based-budgets-for-the-home/comment-page-1/#comment-47899 Summer Week of Giveaways: Pear Budget Wed, 27 May 2009 19:00:36 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=163#comment-47899 [...] It’s completely based on a zero-based budget. [...] [...] It’s completely based on a zero-based budget. [...]

]]> By: why you need an emergency fund | the ¢entsible life http://simplemom.net/zero-based-budgets-for-the-home/comment-page-1/#comment-43803 why you need an emergency fund | the ¢entsible life Tue, 05 May 2009 23:17:37 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=163#comment-43803 [...] in our emergency fund. We use a zero-based budget. If you aren’t familiar with them, here is a great link from SimpleMom. It’s pretty easy, you create a budget where $0 is left. The key is to pay yourself first-by [...] [...] in our emergency fund. We use a zero-based budget. If you aren’t familiar with them, here is a great link from SimpleMom. It’s pretty easy, you create a budget where $0 is left. The key is to pay yourself first-by [...]

]]> By: Pam http://simplemom.net/zero-based-budgets-for-the-home/comment-page-1/#comment-35361 Pam Wed, 18 Feb 2009 02:03:26 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=163#comment-35361 Wow, good article! I tried a bunch of different things for zero based budgeting after listening to Dave Ramsey, and most of them make it too complicated. Doing it on paper is good, but it takes a lot of time! There's a website I use now called Budgety.net. It works great for me. <a href="http://budgety.net/" rel="nofollow">http://budgety.net/</a> Thanks for the post! Wow, good article! I tried a bunch of different things for zero based budgeting after listening to Dave Ramsey, and most of them make it too complicated. Doing it on paper is good, but it takes a lot of time! There’s a website I use now called Budgety.net. It works great for me.

http://budgety.net/

Thanks for the post!

]]> By: The Pointless Pursuit of More: When is Enough Enough? | Simple Mom http://simplemom.net/zero-based-budgets-for-the-home/comment-page-1/#comment-21209 The Pointless Pursuit of More: When is Enough Enough? | Simple Mom Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:53:12 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=163#comment-21209 [...] year. Live on what you have, and never more. I’ve written about budgeting quite a few times here and here, and some of my online friends have written excellent primers on budgeting on their blogs, [...] [...] year. Live on what you have, and never more. I’ve written about budgeting quite a few times here and here, and some of my online friends have written excellent primers on budgeting on their blogs, [...]

]]> By: donniefitz2 (Don Fitzsimmons) http://simplemom.net/zero-based-budgets-for-the-home/comment-page-1/#comment-24748 donniefitz2 (Don Fitzsimmons) Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:15:25 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=163#comment-24748 One of my new years resolutions is to get money under tighter control. Here's some advice in that line: http://tinyurl.com/8eup4f One of my new years resolutions is to get money under tighter control. Here’s some advice in that line: http://tinyurl.com/8eup4f

]]> By: Cool Off Your House Fever With a Long-Term Financial Plan | Simple Mom http://simplemom.net/zero-based-budgets-for-the-home/comment-page-1/#comment-11476 Cool Off Your House Fever With a Long-Term Financial Plan | Simple Mom Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:00:24 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=163#comment-11476 [...] Work on your budget and figure out how you can save just a bit [...] [...] Work on your budget and figure out how you can save just a bit [...]

]]> By: Back To Basics: 79+ Brilliant Budgeting Resources You’ll Love | My Super-Charged Life http://simplemom.net/zero-based-budgets-for-the-home/comment-page-1/#comment-8728 Back To Basics: 79+ Brilliant Budgeting Resources You’ll Love | My Super-Charged Life Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:03:09 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=163#comment-8728 [...] 23. Zero-Based Budgets for the Home- A Primer [...] [...] 23. Zero-Based Budgets for the Home- A Primer [...]

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