Money✓ Follow-up at 6 weeks2,560 views
I make a budget every month but I never stick to it
A budget adherence plan using cash envelopes, automated savings, weekly reviews, and realistic category amounts to make budgeting actually stick.
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Follow-Up Result
6 weeks laterStayed on budget for 2 consecutive months using the envelope system and weekly check-ins
The Problem
I've made a budget every January for the last five years. By February it's abandoned. I set unrealistic limits, forget about irregular expenses, and when I overspend in one category I give up on the whole thing. I know where my money SHOULD go but I can't seem to make it actually go there. I feel like budgeting works for other people but not for me.
The Plan
Week 1-2: Build a Realistic Budget
Track your actual spending for 2 weeks before making a budget — base it on reality, not wishful thinking
Include irregular expenses: car registration, holiday gifts, annual subscriptions — divide by 12 and save monthly
Build in a "fun money" category — a budget with zero enjoyment is a budget you'll abandon
Use the 50/30/20 rule as a starting point: 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings/debt
Automate savings and bill payments on payday — what's left is what you can spend
Week 3-4: Make It Stick
Try the cash envelope system for variable categories (groceries, dining out, entertainment) — when the cash is gone, it's gone
Do a 10-minute weekly budget check-in every Sunday — catch overspending early instead of discovering it at month's end
When you overspend in one category, adjust another — don't abandon the whole budget
Use an app that makes tracking easy: YNAB, Mint, or even a simple spreadsheet
Celebrate staying on budget — reward yourself (within budget) for hitting your targets
Resources
YNAB (You Need A Budget) — the best budgeting app, free 34-day trial
"The Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey — envelope system and debt-free living
r/personalfinance — community budget advice and templates
Mint — free budget tracking app
Follow-Up Result
6 weeks in: the cash envelope system was the breakthrough. I withdraw cash for groceries ($400), dining out ($150), and fun ($100) at the beginning of each month. When I can physically see the money running out, I make different choices. The weekly Sunday check-in catches problems early — last month I was overspending on groceries by week 2 and adjusted by meal planning more carefully. I've stayed on budget for 2 full months for the first time ever. The key was making the budget realistic (I was always underestimating groceries) and building in fun money so I didn't feel deprived.Know someone with this problem?
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