Guest Post: 5 Smart Tips to Stick to Your Personal Budget

We human beings have never been too comfortable with the concept of budget. Living within restrained finances surely doesn't look like a very lucrative proposition to us. However, we must grudgingly admit that budget can play an instrumental role in helping us to maintain financial stability. Budgeting is a great vehicle to avoid scary things like debt. But remember that sticking to your budget is far more difficult than making a budget. Here are some tips that will help you to follow your budget:

1. Motivation plays a big role when it comes to sticking to a budget. If you don't know why you are on a budget or you don't have enough motivation then you are bound to deviate from your budget sooner than you imagine. It will help if you write down your reasons for being in a budget. Are you trying to pay off your debt? Is budget your tool to build a secure future? Have a glance at what you have written whenever you are tempted to spend more. Remember the consequences if you don't follow the budget. Surely you will get the much needed fuel.
   
2. Stay away from credit cards. Remember that there is no such thing as responsible use of credit cards. It will be virtually impossible to stay within the budget with credit cards beckoning you to spend what you don't have. Moreover, the interests and fees charged do not help you at all. You might consider keeping credit cards in places which will not remind you about them easily. However, use of credit card may be inevitable at times. In that case you should plan the expenses in advance. That would stop you to buy impulsively which can certainly result in unwise spending.
   
3. Budgeting does not mean that you need to live a miserable life. If out keep out expenses like watching movies, picnics, dates etc. then your life will be no more than a rudimentary existence. Sooner or later you will drop your budget and will be back to your normal life. Your target should be to eliminate regular expenses like eating out on a daily basis etc. Remember that budgeting without fun is not a practical thing because you won't be able to live up to it.
   
4. Make sure that you are not the only person in your family who is on a budget. It will make no sense if you are saving money with your life but your family members are spending with ease. This way you are fighting a losing battle. Budgeting should be a coordinated effort. Discuss with every single family member about his or her responsibility. Only a joint effort of the whole family can make your budget a grand success.
   
5. Make it a point to keep regular tabs. If you don't check in regularly then you won't realize you are off the track until it's too late. It is very difficult to come back once you are derailed. So make sure that you check your position at least twice a week.
   

It is very important to stick to your budget as it will keep your finances under control. But at times following the budget seems quite difficult. So remember the above points when you start living on a budget.

About the Author This guest post was written by "Jack Reed". He writes on various financial topics with a special focus on bankruptcy. If you are interested in writing a guest post, please contact PF Stock at the Email address listed in the sidebar.