How do we budget when we never know what our income will be? Short story, we don’t!
We never know how much we’ll have so I try to spend as little as I can. Not live like we’re poor, we’ll still buy Oreos and go out to eat, but by our standards, not have wasteful spending.
Is it possible to spend intuitively? That’s what I’ve been thinking on lately. Think intuitive eating, I’ve counted macros before and have a framework of where I’m usually at so now even though I’m not tracking I have a rough idea of my intake.
Now apply that to spending. My habits are mostly similar day to day, month to month. We buy food from the grocery store when it’s on sale, only grab a few treats, and use convenience foods to save time. Our eating out budget is small. We don’t spend money on date nights. I buy us clothes as we need them, which for a woman rollercoastering through pregnant and postpartum is about the same as a guy who is rough on work clothes. 😉
Building the shop has added necessary and some “fun to have” expenses that aren’t permanent, but otherwise our spending feels like a culture.
So now if I put the time and energy into tracking every dollar would I come out to where I think I would? Am I intuitively spending like I think I am?
What do you think? A budget is absolutely necessary or intuitive spending is possible?
