Estimated reading time: 15 minutes
A quick 10 day Day Budget Bootcamp, full of information that will help you transform your mindset, give you how-to budget tips & tricks, keeping track of spending habits, getting out of debt plan, and more.
10 Day Budget Bootcamp Challenge
Are you struggling to make ends meet? Or, do you just want to get your spending in line with your priorities? Either way, I will be very excited to have you join us as we shape up our budgets.
New Years’ for most of us is a time of reflection of years past, but it also allows us to put a new spin on a fresh start. Debt-free living is so important. Not only does it relieve stress, but it gives us the freedom of knowing that there are no financial chains attached. Debt-free living leads to a life that allows for more time. I am sure you value your time and would rather spend more with your family than working to pay off all those bills.
For the NEXT 10 days, we will be working through different articles that will allow you to focus on this on your budget. It will help set the stage for debt-free living.
Each day a new article will be added along with some notable “homework“. A lot will depend on your commitment.
There is no specific knowledge requirement, however, a willingness and determination to learn and do the work will make all the difference for success.
I am excited to be on this journey with you. Let’s get our finance in shape for this year.
Now, we’re all starting from different places financially, but we’re all working towards the same goal… making a budget that works. In order to do that you must create a budget that works for your family.
Today assignment: Is to create a plan! In order to create a plan, you must sit down and create a budget. The following article will help you do just that.
Day (1) – How to Easily Create a Budget
Your Homework (after you have read the article above)- Depending on your management skills you can either create an excel spreadsheet or grab a pencil and paper. I want you to start by creating a rough draft of your monthly expenses. Identifying those non-negotiable bills and those that can be “varying each month”. I would color code them. Don’t forget to create a line item for “savings”.
Once your done with your HOMEWORK – Come back and tell us in the comments that you are done. Also I want to hear how it went. Did you find anything surprising? Did you find a “want” you are ready to part with? What did you learn?
We believe you can make and keep a budget. Oftentimes, all you need is an extra helper.
Today’s assignment: Is to find an application that will make life easier for you! You may already use and track your finances using a great program. If not, read through this next article to get you started.
Day (2) – Five Top Budgeting Apps – Helping You Stay On Track
Your Homework (after you have read the article above) – Find and consider adding in a finance app or software that is currently on your home computer to help set your budgeting goals in place. Tonight’s homework will consist of you setting up a program that will help keep you on track.
I am going to honest I currently use Quicken Books and have been using this program for as long as I can remember. It is a great alternative to using a smart phone app. But whatever you choose…..tonight you will do your own research to find the BEST program or system that will work for you. You want to make sure you can track your spending verses your income.
If you have time after that!! Set some goals. Just a few to start. Think of goals in terms of short term and long term objectives. Are you just listing income and expenses each month, or are you aligning your budget with your personal or family goals? It is your budget! You determine both your goals and what you are willing to do to reach them. Don’t make your budget become just a waste of time. Let your goals drive your budget.
We want our budgets to have a solid foundation. One that will weather all the storms of life. When we have extra expenses our budget can look like a house that is crumbling. Our expenses out weighting our income. Let’s create a steady and reliable budget now.
Today’s assignment: Is to look back over your budget and lean down your expenses. Remember that the items you eliminate today, can and will be temporary. However, you may find you can easily live without and never go back to spending extra money.
Day (3) – Five “Necessities” To Eliminate – Reducing Your Monthly Expenses!
Your Homework (after you have read the article above) – The idea of where and how to begin paying down debt can seem so overwhelming when you are drowning in it. The last few days we have been reviewing our budgets, Creating a budget, find the “right fit” with financial tracking programs that work well with your family.
At this point you should have a clear understanding of the kind of money you have to work with, you can begin paying down debt no matter how large your burden might be. I challenge you too rethink your monthly expenses and eliminate one of your bills. DO it tonight? No better time than the present. I bet you will even feel a sense of freedom.
Once your done with your HOMEWORK – Come back and tell us in the comments that you are done. I want to hear which bill you eliminate. Did you eliminate one bill or many?
Now that we’ve estimated our income and expenses and eliminated extra expenses, we are going to be working further on leaning down our budget.
Today’s assignment: Requires partner talk or self talk. We are not going to dive deeper into our budgets that we have created. Last week we comb through our budget to element extra expenses. Now we are going to see if there are any hidden expenses.
Day (4) – Hidden Things That Break The Budget and How to Avoid Them
Your Homework (after you have read the article above) – Now is the time to EMBRACE your accountability. In order for this to work, you have to be totally transparent and completely honest. You also have to be willing to accept the truth and most importantly, act on it.
SETTING Boundaries – If you suffer from impulse spending or over using an item because it was free. Try resetting your thinking. Stay away from stores that you will know cause you to over spend. OR better yet….before you go shopping write a list and stick with it.
Please remember that every little spending habit that you think is only costing you pennies can add up. All pennies add up and in fact can over the coarse of the year can BLOW your Budget.
Boundaries give us a little space to rethink the situation, which allows the moment of insanity to pass and levelheadedness to take over. Our impulses can be overcome and we can be successful in achieving our budget goals by applying these simple strategies.
Once your done with your HOMEWORK – Come back and tell us in the comments that you are done. Are there spending habits that you have been honest about that are costing you extra money? What boundaries will you set up?
Our budgets can always change because we ourselves are always growing and changing. Now that we have leaned down our expenses you may have found that your bills are outweighing your budget. Now, what do you do?
Today’s assignment: It is time to get creative. Let’s read this next article and see what we can do to help this situation.
Day (5) – What To Do When Your Bills Exceed Your Income
Your Homework (after you have read the article above) – During the week I have heard from many of you that after completing a budget or revamping your budget you found that you were spending more than your income. Today… I want you to look at the line items on your budget and look at those bills that can be adjusted. There are other article in this post that will help you lower some of those bills.
Once your done with your HOMEWORK – Come back and tell us in the comments that you are done. I want to hear which bills where you able to lower this week?
We want to focus on becoming more aware of our spending because that helps us be more thoughtful and successful as budgeters. When these habits and self-awareness are developed, we become better spenders.
Today’s assignment: Read through the next article and becoming mindful of how you may be overspending. Go back over your spending and track those added expenses. It maybe time to start eliminating more.
Day (6) – 5 Reasons You Keep Overspending & How to Stop
Your Homework (after you have read the article above) – The idea of where and How to Begin Paying Down Debt can seem so overwhelming when you are finding your budget doesn’t meet your income. Once you have a clear understanding of the kind of money you have to work with, you can begin paying down debt no matter how large your burden might be. You can start to look at the way you may be overspending.
The main thing to keep in mind as you begin paying down your debt is that every forward movement you make counts, no matter how small if may feel. Today I want you to look at your reasons as to why you maybe overspending. Be honest with yourself. After all, this is for your family’s benefits.
Once your done with your HOMEWORK – Come back and tell us in the comments that you are done. You don’t need to state which reasons that you have been over spending, but I would love to know if you have identified some key factors.
When shopping at the grocery store you can easily over spend. It is easy to walk in without a list and get caught walking out with items you didn’t intend to purchase.
Today’s assignment: Let’s take a look at your grocery spending habit. The key to shopping and staying on budget is by using a list and sticking to it. You can save more money by shopping the sales flyer and using coupons. Let’s read through this next article together.
Day (7) – How Much Should I really be spending on groceries
Your Homework (after you have read the article above) – I want you to look at ways you can reduce your grocery budget even more? Have you thought about meal planning? Do you utilize coupons to the best of your ability? Are you writing a list out before you go to the grocery store? Do you follow Inspiring Savings? Today, I want you to really brainstorm about your grocery budget. Think of ways you can reduce it by 20% to start.
Once your done with your HOMEWORK – Come back and tell us in the comments that you are done. Have you set a grocery budget? Besides couponing what other savings strategies do you use to reduce your grocery bill?
Spending too much time planning dinner each night? Busting your food budget? It is no secret when you eat out you spend more money. But you can have restaurant-quality food at home as well. Let’s cut your Grocery Bill in Half.
Today’s assignment: Create a meal plan that works for your family. Not only does meal planning save you money, but it helps save your sanity. On Inspiring Savings we talk a lot about meal planning. WHY? because it works.
Day (8) – Eating At Home Equals More Money in You Pocket
Your Homework (after you have read the article above) – While looking at your budget it is always wise to add in fun money. BUT going out to eat can be extremely costly. Even running out the door to purchase your morning cup of joe can add up. I want you to look at your budget and your eating habits. Can you eliminate one or two nights out?
Often times I keep our night outs to a minimum and really only go out when I have had a very bad or busy day. With that said we don’t go out often. We keep these as special treats for our kids. They value you going to eat a lot more.
Once your done with your HOMEWORK – Come back and tell us in the comments that you are done. Did you find you go out to eat or have hidden food costs that you found? I would love to hear what you have dug up.
Part of budgeting is prioritizing how we plan to spend, save, and give. And we do that because we usually can’t buy everything we want and still have enough for the things we need. It is time to pass on the torch of learning to budget to our children.
Today’s assignment: Read through this article and share your lessons with your kids. Having them save up for a special items.
Day (9) – How To Teach Young Kids Budgeting Habits Early On!
Your Homework (after you have read the article above) – Today, after reading the article above I would love for you to sit down with your kids and talk to them about money. They are really never too young to start learning by your example. The first step to take is to have a plan on action. Let them “set up” their jars system or whatever system you decide as a family and guiding them.
Encourage them to set goals. Having an item or a goal in mind can help kids learn to delay gratification, and it’s also good practice for saving for big things like retirement or a vacation as an adult. You are their example.. They are silently watching. Most important have fun spending quality time with your kids while they learn about money
Once your done with your HOMEWORK – Come back and tell us in the comments that you are done. Have you been trying to make changes in your home and teach your kids better habits? I would love to hear if this is new to you and if you plan on implementing some ways to help your kids value money.
Often times we get stuck in a rut with our current ways and are finding that we are not meeting our financial goals as fast as we like. I have heard it said over and over again, “every penny counts”. That they do, but when it takes longer to save that penny or invest it, you often lose that oomph to continue on. Let’s take a look at extra ways to save.
Today’s assignment: Read through the article below and see if any of these unique and creative ideas will help you spend less.
Day (10) – Smart Ideas To Take Control of Your Money
Your Homework (after you have read the article above) – As we are wrapping up our very last day. I want you to evaluate the progress you have already made. Do you feel like the changes you have made will make a difference? Do you need to make a few more changes? Remember that a good budget doesn’t happen overnight.
It is a consistent evaluation. Now that you have a budget in place and are ready to make better financial habits remember that you need to check back often and evaluate your goals. Are you still on track? Did you make some bad decisions but are ready to bounce back?
I want to thank you all for taking this journey with me. I pray that helps you and helped you to set some great goals for this year!!!
Holli Smith Boyd-White says
Already finished since we use Dave Ramsey
jen schreiner says
AWESOME… You will be ahead for tomorrow as well.