5 Budgeting Hacks to Save More

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Ever looked at your bank account and thought, “Where did all my money go?”

I’ve been there.

A few years ago, I thought I was “good with money.”

I wasn’t overspending on luxury items, and I wasn’t in debt.

But somehow, every month, my money would slip through my fingers, and I’d have no idea where it went.

Turns out, not overspending isn’t the same as managing your money well. 

I wasn’t budgeting—I was just hoping my bank account would magically sort itself out.

So I tried budgeting.

At first, I struggled because I thought it meant restricting myself.

But then I found out there isn’t just one way to budget—there are multiple methods, and one of them will work for you.

Let’s break them down, with real-life examples to help you pick the right one.

1. Zero-Based Budgeting: Every Dollar Has a Job

Best for: People who want to be extremely organized and in control of every dollar.

How it works:

• At the start of the month, you allocate EVERY dollar of your income into categories (rent, groceries, savings, investments, fun, etc.).

• Your total income minus all expenses and savings should equal zero—every dollar has a purpose.

Example:
Sarah earns $5,000 per month. She uses zero-based budgeting to assign:

• $2,000 to rent

• $600 to groceries

• $400 to transportation

• $1,000 to savings and investments

• $500 to fun/entertainment

• $500 for other essentials

By the end of the month, she’s not wondering where her money went—she already told it where to go.

How to track: Use a mobile app like YNAB (You Need a Budget) or a detailed spreadsheet.

2. Pay Yourself First: Make Saving Automatic

Best for: People who struggle with saving and tend to spend whatever is in their account.

How it works:

• The moment you get paid, you transfer a set amount into savings BEFORE spending on anything else.

• Whatever is left is what you can spend guilt-free.

Example:
John wants to save for a house, but every month, he spends first and saves whatever’s left—which is usually nothing. So, he switches to paying himself first:

• He sets up an automatic transfer of $500 to a high-yield savings account on payday.

• Now, he only sees the remaining balance in his checking account, making it easier to avoid overspending.

How to track: Automatic transfers—set it and forget it.

3. The Envelope System: Old-School, But Still Works

Best for: People who overspend easily and need a physical way to manage money.

How it works:

• You divide cash into envelopes for each expense category (rent, groceries, entertainment, etc.).

• Once the cash is gone from an envelope, you can’t spend more in that category until next month.

Example:
Lisa spends too much on dining out. She withdraws $300 in cash and puts it in an envelope labeled “Restaurants.” Once it’s empty, she has to wait until next month to eat out again—forcing her to be mindful.

Modern version: Instead of cash, use separate bank accounts with category features (like Ally or Capital One 360).

4. The 50-30-20 Budget: Simple and Flexible

Best for: People who want an easy, balanced approach to budgeting.

How it works:

• 50% Needs (rent, food, utilities, insurance)

• 30% Wants (shopping, entertainment, eating out)

• 20% Savings/Investments

Example:
Mike earns $6,000 per month. Using the 50-30-20 rule:

• $3,000 goes to rent, groceries, utilities, and bills.

• $1,800 is for fun stuff (trips, clothes, dining out).

• $1,200 is saved and invested.

This method gives you freedom to spend without guilt while ensuring you save consistently.

How to track: A spreadsheet or apps like Mint and PocketGuard.

5. The No-Budget Budget: The Easiest of Them All

Best for: People who hate tracking details but still want to control their spending.

How it works:

• Instead of tracking every category, you set a monthly spending cap (e.g., $3,000 total).

• As long as you don’t exceed this number, you’re good.

Example:
Emma doesn’t want to track every dollar, so she sets a hard limit: $4,000 per month for everything. She checks her bank balance weekly to ensure she’s staying within that limit.

How to track: Simply review your bank statement once a week.

Which One Works for You?

There’s no one-size-fits-all budget. Here’s how to choose:

• If you like full control, go with Zero-Based Budgeting.

• If you struggle to save, try Pay Yourself First.

• If you overspend easily, use The Envelope System.

• If you want a simple balance, pick 50-30-20.

• If you hate budgeting, do The No-Budget Budget.

What’s important isn’t how you budget—it’s that you start.

So, which one are you going to try this month?

Hit reply and let me know.

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