Why Do I Need a Budget?

A budget is simply a list of your predicted expenses and income over a certain amount of time. Taking the time to complete a budgeting worksheet can help you to have a better idea of where you stand financially and where you want to make changes.

1. Although there are many reasons to start and maintain a budget, the best reason is to help reduce the amount of stress in your life. With a realistic budget in place, you can minimize the impact of unexpected events that arise. You can move through periods of uncertainty, knowing your financial situation is secure.
2. The odds are good that unless you’re tracking your expenses, you probably don’t realize how much money is actually wasted each month. By creating a realistic budget, you can set money aside for planned expenses and evaluate how much you may be losing to wasteful expenditures.
3. A budget is an incredibly valuable tool to help you prioritize your spending, set goals and build new habits for spending and saving.
4. Budgeting can also help you grow your savings. As you begin to budget successfully, more money will become available for long and short term savings. Once debt is repaid, saving can become an even higher priority since bills are budgeted and accounted for in your plan.

If you have any questions about building a budget or if we can help you in any way, please contact Member Services at 804-323-6800 or 800-285-6609.