(ConservativeJournal.org) – Americans are having a hard time affording essential items. Add in transportation fees and housing costs, and inflation is making every aspect more challenging. With the current state of the economy, now could be a good opportunity for many individuals to improve their budgeting skills. One money-saving technique is learning to use the zero-based method.
While zero-based #budgeting is common for companies, it can also work for individual and family budgets. #moneymatters https://t.co/3yfwB0Pxkb pic.twitter.com/oRkaE5jRC1
— Angela Beldin, RN (@BeldinAngela) August 6, 2022
This budget model is simple: Income minus expenses equals zero. To use the method, a person divides up all of their expenses, including savings, into categories and assigns them dollar amounts until they equal the period’s income, or zero. The only problem with this method is people need to be accurate in estimating their monthly expenses. Otherwise, they’ll short themselves elsewhere.
The zero-based budget may be a good choice for people on fixed incomes, but it’s a bit more complex. Specifically, it makes people track and categorize every dollar they spend and helps them save toward long-term goals. The main drawback is that it can be more time-consuming and often requires more in-depth maintenance than other techniques.
Zero-based budgeting works best for people who bring in a reliable income. It is most compatible with biweekly or monthly pay schedules, especially when the total amount of money coming in remains relatively consistent over time.
A person should always keep extra cash in either checking or savings to act as a buffer for unexpected expenses or emergencies. Emergency savings can and should be a line item on your list if your situation allows for it.
Do you use the zero-based budget model? Or do you use one of the many other techniques? If so, which one do you use?
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