Get 10 practical budgeting tips for beginners to help you with your personal finance- no matter how experienced you are with money! Find out how you can save money easily with these simple tricks.

I am no good at Math, and I’m horrible at keeping track of the finance world.

And yet, money has never been a real issue for me. I’ve always had enough, and I usually end up saving more than I realized.

I have been in debt before (one of the downsides of university), but I was able to get my student loans paid off within my first two years in the workforce.

And I did it without any fancy planning, high-paying job, or special financial skills.

Because seriously, nothing in life should ever be that complicated.

Today, I want to share with you some tips on budgeting. I want to share how I manage to stay out of debt without needing to know a bunch of complicated figures.

Those out there who struggle with numbers and finance, this post is for you!

Check out these 10 budgeting tips that help me stay out of debt and save money easily. They can work for you, too!

Tips on Budgeting When You Know Nothing About Finance

Tip #1: Spend Cash When Possible

The most complicated part of my money system (and trust me, it’s not really that complicated) is how I organize my cash.

Cash is better than credit or debit cards, because you can physically see how much you are spending.

When you spend money with a card, it’s harder to fully grasp how much money you are parting with. It’s also easier to straight-up spend money you don’t have.

I use a money system that was introduced by a guy named Dave Ramsey.

His budgeting tips start with creating a budget for yourself that is separated into categories. Each month, you put a previously decided amount of cash into different envelopes designated to a specific category.

Over the course of that month, you can only spend what’s in the envelope.

If you run out, you can’t take money from another area. Any money that remains at the end of the month gets carried over into the next month.

As time goes on, you will accumulate more and more leftover cash and can afford to treat yourself more often. It is a really satisfying way of using your money.

The hardest part of this system is figuring out how much money you want to put in each envelope. You can decide what categories you want and how much you want to put into each category.

And remember, here we aim for progress, not perfection. You might find that your first trial run of the system doesn’t work too well. But that’s okay! Just try again next month after readjusting your needs. It will take time, but it will be time well spent!

Read about Dave Ramsey’s approach to personal finance: Dave Ramsey’s Envelope System Explained

Tip #2: Have “No Spending” Days (or weeks or months!)

This budgeting tip is helpful because you save money easily by choosing not to spend it for a set amount of time. It also teaches a really valuable lesson about yourself and what you value.

When I tried to opt out of spending for a week, I was surprised by how easy it felt. I didn’t actually miss anything that I normally spent my money on. I mean, yes, the convenience of a coffee from Starbucks was nice. But hey, making a coffee at home ended up adding its own value that I really enjoyed, as well! And a walk in the park really was just as pleasant as a “therapeutic” trip to the mall.

Taking some time away from spending will not only save you money, but it will show you all of the things that you can still do without breaking the bank.

You will notice how beautiful life can be without spending a dime!

Now, if it seems too daunting to go a whole day without spending, you can even considering making a smaller goal, like saying that on Tuesdays, you won’t spend money on food or drinks.

Start with something that you feel is manageable, and over time you will be ready to try something bigger.

Related Post: How to Enjoy Life’s Simple Pleasures

Tip #3: Don’t Feel Pressured to Spend All of Your Money

When people win the lottery, the first question people ask them is “What are you going to do with your money?” The usual response involves a big purchase or an expensive trip.

When we have more money, we feel more eager to spend that money.

But that is an easy way to lose money quickly.

Have you ever heard the phrase “Spending begets spending”?

It means that the more you spend, the more you will continue to spend. Many people who offer budgeting tips will remind you of this issue.

If you have a decent paycheck and decide to blow it all on a pricey computer, you’re going to want to buy additional accessories for that computer. Then you’re going to want games for it, and maybe a more comfortable desk and chair to go with it.

See what I’m getting at?

So if you have more money, don’t plan to spend everything you have.

Spend below your means as best as you can, and you will find that your money will start building up more than you realized.

In addition to this, don’t let other people convince you to spend your money.

Buy something if you planned on it, but don’t allow someone else to tell you that you need something you don’t actually care about.

Be open and honest about your intentions.

Let them know that you are trying to save money and don’t want to spend it all in one place. It is easier to stick to your personal finance goal when you tell others about it.

Related Post: How to Prepare for New Goals

Tip #4: Write Down EVERYTHING you Spend your Money On

Of all the budgeting tips, this one is probably the hardest one to do, especially when you first start out. However, it is well worth the effort.

It helps to see everything that you are spending your money on. Designate a space in a journal or agenda to keep track of your spending habits, and don’t ignore a single dollar.

Oftentimes, it’s the little things we spend money on that suck up our savings.

You might be thinking your $2 coffee in the morning is nothing, but when you buy one every day, that ends up being $730 a year! You could cut down those expenses significantly simply by making your coffee at home.

When you write down your expenses, you might start to notice things that are taking your money that don’t really add any value to your life. When you see it written down, you can reflect on your spending habits to help you make more strategic choices and save money in the future.

Beyond writing it down and looking at it every once in a while, I don’t actually do anything more with the information. It is simply a practice of being more aware of your spending. This skill will help you spend more intentionally without even trying!

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Tip #5: Share and Borrow Stuff

Okay, I know this sounds simple, but seriously, it’s a game-changer. This budgeting tip alone will save you hundreds of dollars if done properly!

Here’s how it works: you have things in your house that you use every day. You should definitely be buying those things. But there are other times where you only really use that item once or twice a year. In cases like this, it’s smarter to borrow it.

I’m not suggesting you mooch off of other people for the rest of your life, but you certainly shouldn’t underestimate people’s kindness.

Most people will not be put out if you ask to borrow something they have. In fact, many will feel pleased that their appliance got extra use!

At my house, we have a deck outside that needs a good wash literally one time every year. The process requires a pressure washer, but why would we bother with an expensive pressure washer when we are only going to use it once a year?

My neighbour, on the other hand, needs a pressure washer frequently, so she owns one. Once a year, I borrow it from her to clean my deck, no fee required. And of course, when she’s in need of something I have, I don’t hesitate to lend it to her!

Not only is it nice to save money, but the connection you get from the process of giving and receiving with a friend is a benefit in itself!

Next time you need something that you’re sure won’t get many uses, ask around first and see if someone would be willing to lend it out.

I also like to do this with clothes. Me, my sister, and my mom all like similar things, so when we start getting a little bored of our own clothes, we go ‘shopping’ in each other’s closets. We trade items to switch up our wardrobe a little bit without spending extra money at clothing stores.

Related Post: How to Tithe and Why It’s Important

Tip #6 Make use of Free (or Cheap) Resources

Learn about your city and what they offer when it comes to free resources. Many places offer free admission to museums or recreation centers at different times. And if you’re itching to spend money on furniture or clothes, your local thrift stores are good for the environment AND your bank account!

Keep an eye out for the opportunities that your community provides for free entertainment.

In my town, I love to watch out for free concerts. They are always so fun, and it is usually a concert for a talented band that is just wanting some exposure.

More than anything, though, don’t underestimate the power of a library card!

Libraries are my NUMBER ONE resource that provides me with free entertainment 24/7.

Most libraries nowadays let you borrow a lot more than just books. You can get magazines, music, movies, and sometimes even video games and board games!

Their web database will also provide you with a lot of free educational courses, as well as free eBooks and audiobooks. My library even has a free subscription to a movie streaming service called ‘Kanopy’. I can also make use of a VR gaming system and a 3D Printer if I ask on-site.

Not every library has a ton to offer, but it’s definitely worth checking out what yours has. It can provide a lot of quality entertainment and education completely free.

More from In Its Season: A Simple Morning Routine When You’re Not at Your Best

Tip #7: Don’t Assume Something is Better Just Because it’s Expensive

There used to be a story about Starbucks that, to be honest, I have no clue if it’s true or not. Regardless, I think all stories do have a level of truth to them, so I’m going to share a small piece of it anyway.

The story was that Starbucks started out just like any other coffee shop. One day, they decided to double the price of their coffee, and all of a sudden people were flocking to their cafe!

Whether the story itself is true or not, the truth of human nature remains the same; we tend to assume that expensive means good.

Have you ever looked online for something and passed over the cheaper option because you thought the price was sketchy?

Yeah, so have I.

And I’m not saying we were necessarily wrong! Maybe a $10 pair of sneakers is a sure sign of a poorly-made product.

But maybe not.

Though many times, cheap products are made poorly, that is not always the case. It is our job to do the research and find out for ourselves if something is worth the money.

Here’s another story for you.

For my wedding, I wanted to buy my husband a tungsten ring. I went to a TON of ring stores, where they were all charging $300-500 for the rings. I was willing to pay that price until I looked them up on Amazon. A wholesaler had some available and was selling Tungsten rings for $40. The exact same ring was hundreds of dollars cheaper! I couldn’t believe the deal I was getting! Sufficed to say, I bought the ring on Amazon.

Sometimes, like in the case above, you are paying more for the peace of mind, feeling safer that you opted for the pricier product. Other times, you are paying premium prices for the brand itself.

A pair of Nike shoes are gonna go for a lot more than some no-name brand that might be just as good.

So make sure you are looking at lots of different options before you buy something. Don’t look at the price and automatically go for the expensive option because it guarantees good quality- it doesn’t.

Do your research and make your choice according to reviews and company reputation.

Related Post: How to Find Satisfaction in Every Season of Life

Tip #8: Don’t Buy Redundant Items

At my mom’s house, we all joke about how many tongs she has. Her kitchen drawer holds at least nine of them.

We always laugh at the thought of what it would look like to make use of all of those tongs at once. That would be a lot of salad dishes to serve up! For obvious reasons, a tenth pair of tongs would be overkill.

This is what I mean when I say “redundant items”.

But not all items are easy to identify as redundant.

Let’s take my kitchen, for example. When I first moved in, I said I wanted an electric kettle. Without one at the moment, I’ve been using a pot and simply boiling water in it on the stove.

After a week of doing this, I started to realize that having a kettle wouldn’t actually add any value to the kitchen. It would boil water the same way I already was. For me, a kettle could now be considered a redundant appliance.

When you are looking to buy new items, it’s important to consider whether or not that item will be serving a new purpose.

Will it allow you to do something that you couldn’t do with any other item you own? Does it make your living situation better by offering necessary assistance? If you didn’t buy it, would it stop you from doing something you love? These are all good things to ask yourself before purchasing any item.

One good practice to do is to give yourself 30 days to consider a purchase. If, after those 30 days, you still want the product, then go ahead and get it! If not, then forego the purchase.

Read more about this: Why I Wait 30 Days Before I Make a Purchase

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Tip #9: Don’t Engage in Things That Tempt you to Spend Money

The things you engage with can affect what you think about. This knowledge can help you change any desire you have to spend money.

Many magazines, television shows, and advertising can make you want to buy products.

You need to take note of the things that tempt you to spend money and do what you can to cut them out of your life.

Now, simply cutting things out of your life never ends well. You also have to add something to your life that will feed you healthier ideas.

My go-to for this is minimalist podcasts and YouTube videos about the joys of simple living. I try to steer clear of fashion magazines, too. I mostly read yoga and homemaking magazines now. All of these things can help you change your mindset and value things that don’t cost you anything. You won’t have to struggle with an internal battle half as often!

Unfortunately, sometimes it is the people in our lives that make us want to spend more.

If you have friends who are big spenders, it is going to be harder for you to commit to spending less. You need to be open with them about your goals and tell them that you need their help to keep from being tempted.

If they refuse to honour your wishes, it might be time for you to cut back on social outings with those friends and spend more time with people who will support you.

Related Post: 10 Youtubers That’ll Make you want a Minimalist Lifestyle

Tip #10: Buy Only What you Love and Appreciate It!

This tip is twofold. First, make sure that the stuff you buy is something you REALLY want.

Don’t buy something that is just a placeholder for the thing you actually want.

If it’s not in your budget to buy the thing you really want, then wait until you have enough money. Don’t buy something else while you wait.

For example, if you want a nice fan to keep you cool at night, do your research to figure out the fan you want. Once you’ve decided, wait until it’s possible to buy it and maintain your budget.

If you can’t buy it right away, don’t go to the store and buy a poor-quality fan as a placeholder. It won’t serve its purpose, you won’t like it, and it will end up adding clutter and wasting your money.

It is better to make intentional decisions that will lead to purchases with a lasting value.

The second part of this budgeting tip is to appreciate what you currently own.

When I say appreciate it, I mean take care of it, too!

Make sure your household items get used often and are maintained with care. Clean the items in your house so they stay in good condition and use them with gratitude.

I’ve found that when I care more for the things I have, I am actually more cautious of inviting new items into my home. Often I think, “Sure, it would be nice to have this extra item. But how much work is it going to be for me to take care of it? Is it worth it?”

It takes effort to treat your things well, so adding new things also means adding more work. If you have it in your home, you will want to make sure it’s worth it.

Related Post: 7 Surprising Reasons you should consider naming your devices

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If you follow these basic budgeting tips for beginners, you will be sure to see improvements in your personal finances. Save money easily by following just a few of these practical tricks!

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What do you do to save money easily? Share your budgeting tips below!

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