Page 21 - Book3E

7. Prepare a shopping list. Before you grocery shop, or make other purchases, make a shopping list so you can stay within your budgeted amount, and use coupons whenever possible. Buy in bulk when it makes sense and resist impulse buying at the supermarket. Never grocery shop on an empty stomach. It’s too tempting to buy those delicious extras!
Assess Ongoing Results
One of the greatest benefits of a budget is not financial but emotional. There is an enormous psychological lift experienced by those who think through their financial needs and establish a course for getting where they want to go. Such planning eliminates the uncertainty of not knowing where you are headed. Like any journey, reaching financial success requires a map that shows you where you’re headed. That map is your budget. It lets you know what is required if you are to reach your destination.
Your budget should be reviewed at least monthly for best results. By monitoring what happens as you and your family pass through each monthly budget period, you will be in a better position to make the necessary adjustments so you can stay on target. This will require meeting with all household members to evaluate your progress and make any necessary modifications to your budget before the next month begins.
In the first months, you may want to meet twice a month so that any obvious errors can be fixed quickly. It won’t take too long before you will be able to make these assessments and adjustments swiftly, and your budget meetings will become short and more enjoyable as you see progress happening. Your budget will become the basic guideline for all the financial activities of your family, and you will experience a real sense of accomplishment among family members as you work together to make your lifestyle the one you have planned for.
Measuring Your Current Progress 13