Budgeting For Dummies

Build a budget that puts you on solid financial footing

Ask any financially successful person how they achieved their goals, and chances are they’ll tell you it all started with a budget. And that’s exactly where you should start. Budgeting For Dummies shows you how to create a plan that fits your lifestyle, manages everyday needs, and builds your savings. Author Athena Valentine, founder of the Money Smart Latina blog, offers step-by-step details for creating and following a budget without feeling like you’re depriving yourself and your family of all the things that make life worth living. This book shows you how to figure out where your money comes from and where it goes so you can live the life you want and work toward your financial goals. Find out how to establish an emergency fund, eliminate debt, improve your credit score, and stick to your budget through economic ups and downs.

• Discover budgeting methods that work so you can live within your means
• Create a budget for your unique situation to get a handle on your income and expenses
• Deal with common budgeting challenges without taking on more debt
• Increase your credit score and save toward a major purchase

You don’t need to make six figures to achieve your financial goals. Valentine, who also writes for Slate.com, knows the struggle of trying to make ends meet and is enthusiastic about sharing her knowledge with anyone who wants to improve their financial literacy. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to managing your money, you can depend on Valentine’s tried-and-true advice in Budgeting For Dummies to set you on the right path.

Athena Valentine Lent is the founder of Money Smart Latina, a blog and financial education resource center. She leads workshops and classes on money management, financial resiliency, and navigating finances. She publishes a personal finance column at Slate.com.

Introduction 1

Part 1: All about Budgeting 5

Chapter 1: Beginning with Budgeting Basics 7

Chapter 2: Breaking Down the Parts of a Budget 21

Part 2: Finding a Budget That Works for You 37

Chapter 3: Zero-Based Budgeting 39

Chapter 4: The 50/30/20 Budget 59

Chapter 5: The Envelope Budget 77

Chapter 6: The Pay-Yourself-First Budget 95

Chapter 7: Tips for Creating a New Budget 107

Part 3: Taking Care of Your Priorities 127

Chapter 8: Establishing an Emergency Fund 129

Chapter 9: Saving for Your Retirement 147

Chapter 10: Eliminating Debt 153

Part 4: Budgeting in Action 177

Chapter 11: Budgeting in a Tough Economy 179

Chapter 12: Budgeting during Different Life Stages 193

Chapter 13: Budgeting for a Major Purchase or Life Event 211

Part 5: Using Your Budget for Money Management 231

Chapter 14: Budgeting for Major Life Changes 233

Chapter 15: Keeping Tabs on Credit Card Spending 249

Chapter 16: Using a Budget to Plan for the Future 259

Part 6: The Part of Tens 275

Chapter 17: Ten Creative Ways to Budget 277

Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Stay Motivated When Following a Budget 281

Index 285

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.