Page 11 - Book3E

CHAPTER 2
A Rose, or a Budget, by Any Other Name
Just because it’s a budget doesn’t mean you have to call it one. If the idea of a “budget” immediately puts you on the defensive, think of a more appealing name. Maybe it’s a “spending plan” or a “monthly progress report” or your “family financial plan.” Pick a name that is positive for you, one that helps you feel good about what you’re doing, one that says motivation rather than deprivation. Think of your budget as a way to be able to have the things that are important to you instead of something that forces you to go without the things you want.
When it comes to living by a budget, most of us are novices. Many of us didn’t receive training in school. Most of us don’t even make family finances a topic of discussion. The majority of us were raised with the idea that children don’t need to know where the family money comes from or how it’s spent. But if we’re really going to live by our budget, everyone has to understand the reasons and the goals.
The most practical budget in the world won’t last more than a few months if the feelings and needs of those who must live with it weren’t taken into consideration when the budget was created. If you hear statements like, “Am I supposed to go barefoot until next month? I need a new pair of shoes and I’m tired of waiting for weeks just so you can balance your budget,” chances are your budget was created in a vacuum, i.e., without input from the members of your household. Many financial problems are caused by behavioral problems rather than by lack of money. If you take the time to assess your financial behavior and have each member of your household do the same, you
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