From managing rises in the cost of living, to making your money last longer, knowing how to budget effectively is an important and valuable skill. As individuals, there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to budgeting – we all learn and work best in different ways. Luckily there are plenty of different methods to consider, allowing you to choose a budgeting style that suits you and your circumstances.
Whether you’re just testing the waters or feel ready to seriously crack down on your spending, here are some common budgeting methods to help you stay in control of your finances.
5 budgeting methods to consider
1. Traditional budget
The traditional budget method is where a lot of people begin their budgeting journey. First, create a list of your income and outgoings to get a detailed picture of where you stand. From there, you can set goals for how much you want to spend or save in different categories. For example, you might decide you want to pay more each month into a savings account, or that you want to spend a little less on eating out or buying clothes so that you can save for a holiday.
It might take a few months of tracking to get an accurate idea of your expenses, but it can be a helpful way to get a full overview of your financial situation.
2. 50/30/20 budget
The 50/30/20 budgeting method divides your spending into needs, wants and goals – dedicating a percentage of your income to each. The split is typically 50% towards needs, 30% towards wants and 20% towards goals – which could include savings or debt repayments. The difficulty here can be defining ‘wants’ over ‘needs’. For example, food is a ‘need’, but the weekly takeaway can go into the ‘want’ category and could be cut back on, if necessary.
This method can be flexible. Some people like to swap the percentages around depending on their aims – spending less on their wants and more on their goal of paying down debt, for example.
3. Envelope budgeting/cash stuffing
For those who really need to be strict with their spending, the envelope budget – sometimes known as cash stuffing – might be appealing. The idea is that you have an envelope (either physical or digitally) for each spending category – such as food or clothing – and put money in each of them. You can only spend what’s in each envelope per month.
Traditionally, the envelope budget was a purely cash-based system with real envelopes. Being able to physically see where your money’s going could be a great motivator to help you cut back on spending. However, the potential downside to physical envelopes is you might miss out on any interest your money could make when in a savings account. There’s also the risk of cash theft if your house was broken into.
In recent years, the envelope budget has been adopted digitally as online banking and apps become more accessible. Some banking apps offer options to sort your money into different ‘pots’ to save or budget for different things. While apps like Goodbudget are designed specifically for the envelope method.
4. Pay-yourself-first budget
Otherwise known as the 80/20 or debt repayment budget. The pay-yourself-first budget focuses on setting aside money for yourself first and then spending the rest however you like between needs and wants. This means putting 20% of your monthly income into savings, a retirement fund or using it to pay down debt – whichever would have the most benefit. From there, you’re free to spend the rest as you normally would, including covering your regular bills and other expenses.
5. Zero-based budget
The zero-based budget takes the traditional method of itemised budgeting to the next level. In this approach, you allocate every pound of your monthly income towards a different purpose or ‘job’ – such as paying for the mortgage, covering household bills, or spending on yourself. If you overspend in one area, you have to reduce your spending elsewhere, so it balances out. For example, if your bills are £20 more than you expected, you could spend £20 less on eating out that month. Once everything’s accounted for, you’ll have zero left over – hence the name.
How can I choose the right budgeting method for me?
With so many different budgeting methods available, it can be difficult to know which one to choose. In many cases, it could be worth combining several methods to find the technique that works for you but there are also a few considerations that can help you decide.
You could start by assessing your finances to get a baseline – ideally by tracking your expenses as in the traditional method. From there you can better understand your priorities and the areas you want to focus on. For example, if long-term saving is your goal, you might find that the pay-yourself-first budget works best, particularly if you modify it to increase the percentage you save.
How much effort you want to devote to budgeting can also have an impact – some methods can be more time-consuming than others. Your income could also affect your decision.
Don’t overlook the tools that can help – there are many budgeting apps available that can help you get a handle on things. Our financial wellbeing guide also has a wealth of resources to help you skill up financially.
Ultimately, the method that works best, is the one you feel you can stick to – so don’t be afraid to try a few out to see which one clicks with you.