{"id":1059,"date":"2020-10-29T13:40:51","date_gmt":"2020-10-29T13:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/budgeting-for-beginners-how-to-get-started\/"},"modified":"2025-07-30T17:20:36","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T17:20:36","slug":"budgeting-for-beginners-how-to-get-started","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/blog\/article\/budgeting-for-beginners-how-to-get-started\/","title":{"rendered":"Budgeting For Beginners: How To Get Started"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<article class=\"wp-block-group alignfull p-post-single is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<header class=\"wp-block-group alignfull p-post-single-hero is-style-theme-subtle-light has-backgrounds-subtle-light-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer is-style-spacing-80\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center l-container is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-column-is-layout-1f86b309 wp-block-column-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group p-post-single-hero__content has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a4fd459e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div style=\"text-transform:uppercase; margin-top:0;margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);\" class=\"theme-color-secondary t-date wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2020-10-29T13:40:51+00:00\">October, 2020<\/time><\/div>\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-post-title has-display-x-large-font-size\">Budgeting For Beginners: How To Get Started<\/h1>\n\n<div style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);margin-bottom:0\" class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/blog\/article\/category\/budgeting\/\" rel=\"tag\" class=\"cat-item\"><i class=\"cat-item__color cat-item__color--green\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><span class=\"cat-item__label\">Budgeting<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-column-is-layout-a209ae40 wp-block-column-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group p-post-single-hero__media has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-587a7eb1 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><figure style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;\" class=\"is-style-image-featured s-aspect-ratio-1-1 wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shutterstock_1543068380.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shutterstock_1543068380.jpg 5760w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shutterstock_1543068380.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shutterstock_1543068380.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shutterstock_1543068380.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shutterstock_1543068380.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shutterstock_1543068380.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shutterstock_1543068380.jpg?resize=1619,1080 1619w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer is-style-spacing-80\"><\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group p-post-single-body has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer is-style-spacing-80\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Create a Budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Being financially independent is a wonderful thing. You get to make your own decisions about where your money goes \u2014 how you spend it, where you spend it, and how you save it. But with financial freedom also comes an immense amount of responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you overspend or don\u2019t keep a close eye on your finances, you may find yourself fighting to keep your head above water. You could end up missing payments, racking up (more) debt or prolonging long-term goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, your financial situation never has to get that dire. All it takes is setting up a simple yet effective budget. \u2018But where do I even start?\u2019 we hear you asking. You can start right here, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/services\/loan-services\/\">LendNation<\/a>, to learn all the basics of budgeting for beginners and how to get started with your very own budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But first: Why a budget? There are endless reasons to create a financial budget, but some of the most important ones include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Understanding your finances better<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Saving for future purchases and retirement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cutting down on overspending<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eliminating the need to live paycheck to paycheck<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paying down or eliminating debt<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reaching financial goals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you determine the <em>whys<\/em> of your budget, it\u2019s time to create a plan of action. Ready to get started?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-1-calculate-your-total-monthly-income\">Step 1: Calculate your total monthly income<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>First things first, you need to know how much you\u2019re making (after taxes, of course). It\u2019s easiest to manage your budget on a month-to-month basis, which is why you should calculate your monthly income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re a salaried employee or live off a fixed income, it should be easier to determine how much you\u2019re making each month by adding your total paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your monthly income varies a bit more or is harder to predict, use a helpful tool like this <a href=\"https:\/\/smartasset.com\/taxes\/paycheck-calculator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">paycheck calculator<\/a>. It provides a near-exact estimate of your paychecks by using information like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Where you live<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Marital status<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How often you get paid<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hourly pay vs. salary pay<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Withholdings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allowances<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pre- and post-tax deductions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>From there, you can paint a more accurate picture of your monthly income, which is what you need to know for your next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-2-calculate-your-monthly-expenses\">Step 2: Calculate your monthly expenses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, it\u2019s time to calculate your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/blog\/article\/money-saving-hacks-for-everyday-household-expenses\/\">monthly expenses<\/a>. Where is your money going, and how much of it are you spending? Let\u2019s break it down into two categories to make this step a bit easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fixed-expenses\">Fixed Expenses<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>These are the payments you make each month \u2014 usually for the exact same amount. Fixed expenses are the easiest ones to predict. Things like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mortgage or rent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Student loan payments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Car loan payments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Personal loan payments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monthly memberships and subscriptions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-variable-expenses\">Variable Expenses<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Next up are your variable expenses. These are the payments you make each month but will change month-to-month. These expenses include things like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Utility bills (gas, heat, A\/C, electricity)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water usage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Groceries<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Household items<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Personal items<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>What is the best way to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.calculator.net\/budget-calculator.html\">calculate these expenses<\/a>? Go through your purchases over the last few months and calculate your average monthly spending in these categories. From there, you can work to transfer these into \u2018fixed\u2019 expenses to help keep you on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if your average spending on utilities is $120 a month, but you know it will be much lower in April because you don\u2019t use that much heat or A\/C, budget the $120 anyway. That way, come August when your A\/C bill skyrockets, you\u2019ll already have that money set aside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-3-cut-expenses-if-necessary\">Step 3: Cut expenses if necessary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you\u2019ve calculated your monthly income and expenses, it\u2019s time to determine the most important question: Do your total expenses outweigh your total income? If not, great! If so, there\u2019s a lot more trimming involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter where you land, though, you should take a closer look at your spending to see where you can cut expenses. Here are some ideas to get you started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-dining-and-entertainment\">Dining and entertainment<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The average household spends nearly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oberlo.com\/statistics\/average-cost-of-entertainment-per-month\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$3,458 a year<\/a>&nbsp;on entertainment. You can brainstorm more creative ways to cut down on that amount like cooking at home, limiting your activities, and hosting movie nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-display-small-font-size\" id=\"h-transportation\">Transportation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Total transportation costs for the average household \u2014 including gas, car payments, insurance, and public transportation \u2014 equals just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.valuepenguin.com\/average-household-budget#transportation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">above $9,000 a year<\/a>. Ask yourself questions like: Can I carpool? Can I work from home more often? Can I opt for a vehicle with lower car payments and\/or better gas mileage?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-4-remember-the-50-30-20-rule\">Step 4: Remember the 50\/30\/20 rule<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to your budget, most financial experts and advisors want you to remember three numbers: 50, 30, and 20. What does that mean, though? Here\u2019s how it breaks down:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>50% <\/strong>of your income should go towards <em>needs and essentials<\/em>, like living expenses, food, and bills.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>30%<\/strong> of your income should go towards <em>wants, <\/em>like entertainment and vacations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>20%<\/strong> of your income should go towards <em>savings<\/em>, whether it\u2019s towards your emergency savings, retirement, or major purchases like a vehicle or home.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This simple and effective approach can help give you get a better idea of where your current spending goes and where you can make some adjustments. All while giving you the flexibility to still have some fun and not limiting yourself entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pro tip: <\/strong>To keep yourself from overspending and under-saving, set up an automatic withdrawal from your paycheck or banking account to deposit directly into your savings account. That way, the money is set aside before you get the chance to spend it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-5-use-free-budgeting-tools-and-resources\">Step 5: Use free budgeting tools and resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Starting and managing a budget can be a bit overwhelming. Luckily, financial experts have shared their wealth of knowledge with the world in the form of helpful resources like templates, tools, and apps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Popular platforms like Microsoft Office and Google Sheets have pre-built, ready-to-use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebalance.com\/free-budget-spreadsheet-sources-1294285\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">budgeting templates<\/a>&nbsp;to give you a jump start. Most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/blog\/finance\/budgeting-saving-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">top-ranking budgeting apps<\/a>&nbsp;like Mint, Clarity Money, and Pocketguard are free to use and easy to access and update with just a few taps of your phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our advice? Test out a few options to see what works best for you. The key to a successful budget is actually <em>managing<\/em> it, so be sure to find a tool or resource that is easiest to keep up with and helps you stay on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-6-set-goals\">Step 6: Set goals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have the basics of your budget locked down, it\u2019s time to set some goals! After all, you likely have your sights set on a bright financial future \u2014 filled with a nice home and free of debt, worry, and stress. Those goals could include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Paying off credit card debt<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paying off your home or vehicle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Building an emergency savings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Opening a retirement fund<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Saving for a big purchase<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improving your credit score<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Starting a college savings fund<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Going on a bucket-list vacation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Setting goals can help you stay on track, stay motivated, and set you up for future success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-turn-to-lendnation-for-budgeting-help-and-more\">Turn to LendNation for budgeting help \u2014 and more<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter your personal situation, creating a budget (and <em>sticking<\/em> to it) is the most important step to financial freedom. But when life throws you curveballs, don\u2019t let it stand in your way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/about-us\">Turn to LendNation<\/a> to help cover any short-term financial gaps and hurdles. Our simple title, installment and payday loan application and quick approval process can get you the fast cash you need \u2014 so you can stick to your budget and get one step closer to true financial independence. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/apply\">Apply online<\/a> today!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group p-post-single-related has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-07747ed5 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80)\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\"\/>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-display-small-font-size\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">Explore Related Posts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group p-latest-posts-columns is-style-default is-layout-flow\">\n\t<div 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class=\"taxonomy-category u-visually-hidden wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/blog\/article\/category\/budgeting\/\" rel=\"tag\" class=\"cat-item\"><i class=\"cat-item__color cat-item__color--green\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><span class=\"cat-item__label\">Budgeting<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:0;\" class=\"t-date wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-20T21:43:31+00:00\">March, 2026<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"p-post-highlight__media s-aspect-ratio-4-5 wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/shutterstock_360221423.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Person reviewing budget plan for saving toward big expenses on a smart phone\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/shutterstock_360221423.jpg 5472w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/shutterstock_360221423.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/shutterstock_360221423.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/shutterstock_360221423.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/shutterstock_360221423.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/shutterstock_360221423.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/shutterstock_360221423.jpg?resize=1619,1080 1619w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\t\n\t<p class=\"a-hidden-link-cover wp-block-post-title\"><a 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class=\"cat-item\"><i class=\"cat-item__color cat-item__color--green\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><span class=\"cat-item__label\">Budgeting<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:0;\" class=\"t-date wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-05-19T10:00:00+00:00\">May, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"p-post-highlight__media s-aspect-ratio-4-5 wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/shutterstock_1666540216_6975af.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"How to have fun this summer with budget-friendly summer activities\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/shutterstock_1666540216_6975af.jpg 5558w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/shutterstock_1666540216_6975af.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/shutterstock_1666540216_6975af.jpg?resize=768,513 768w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/shutterstock_1666540216_6975af.jpg?resize=1024,684 1024w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/shutterstock_1666540216_6975af.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/shutterstock_1666540216_6975af.jpg?resize=2048,1367 2048w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/shutterstock_1666540216_6975af.jpg?resize=1619,1080 1619w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\t\n\t<p class=\"a-hidden-link-cover wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/blog\/article\/create-your-budget-to-have-a-fun-summer\/\" target=\"_self\" >Create Your Budget to Have a Fun Summer<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-62083a6e wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-tertiary\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/blog\/\">Visit Blog\n\t\t\t                                                                                                  Homepage<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Budgeting can be your key to unlocking financial freedom. But how do you get started? Check out LendNation&#8217;s guide for beginners.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":1441,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-budgeting"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Budgeting For Beginners: How To Get Started - LendNation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Budgeting can be your key to unlocking financial freedom. But how do you get started? 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