Saving Tips to Help You Unlock Your Budgeting Potential

From Surviving to Thriving

Ready to turn that "just surviving" budget into a "thriving, living my best life" financial plan?

Thought so 💅

Forget about the snooze-fest of complicated graphs and jargon. We've distilled the nitty-gritty of financial management into easy-to-follow tips that will have your savings account crying tears of joy. Ready to level up and get your money working for you, instead of the other way around?

Let's go.‍

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Understand Your Cash Flow

Cash flow is basically the movement of money into and out of your bank account. One of the main reasons why understanding your cash flow is so important relates to being able to budget effectively.

Budgeting tips often stress the importance of accurately tracking income and expenditure but without a decent grasp of your cash flow, budgeting may become slightly tricky. By understanding when and where your money is being spent, and how much you're receiving, you'll be well on your way to making more informed decisions 🙌

For instance, if you know that most of your expenses come at the beginning of the month but your income arrives towards the end of the month, you might need to adjust your spending habits to avoid cash flow issues.

Another key reason to understand your cash flow is it helps in building a safety net for those times when you need some cash to cover unexpected expenses.

Lastly, knowing your cash flow can help pave the way for financial growth. Future goals like homeownership, retirement or a trip to the Bahamas require a little bit of planning. And part of that planning involves knowing how much you can save each month without straining your day-to-day finances 🏖️

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Pay Yourself First

The 'Pay Yourself First' method is a game-changer in the world of savings.

By putting yourself first in your financial plan, you're prioritizing your future financial well-being over immediate wants, making sure you're saving money to help you achieve your long-term financial goals.

We love to see it.

Once you get your paycheck, try to set aside a portion for your savings. People tend to try and save 20% but of course, everyones financial situation is different. Start off by saving what you can and increasing when you can ⬆️

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The 50/30/20 Rule

Now that you know your income and expenses and are starting to save, it's time to distribute your income. Here's where the 50/30/20 rule, one of the most popular budgeting tips, comes in.

Start by allocating 50% of your income to necessities like rent and bills (the boring stuff), 30% towards wants like your Netflix subscription or brunch, and the remaining 20% to savings. This way, you can enjoy your current lifestyle while thinking of future you 💗

For more tips, check out The 50/30/20 Rule: A Simple Way to Figure out How Much to Save.

‍Build an Emergency Fund

Having your own emergency fund is your very own financial safety net, ready to catch you when those nasty unexpected bills try to drag you down. Car broke down? Vet bills? An emergency fund has got you covered.

Not only does it give you peace of mind (and who doesn't need a bit more of that?), but it also helps you avoid financial pitfalls that can mess up your monthly budget. You're less likely to rack up credit card debt or dip into your savings for that epic trip you've been planning.

Think of building your emergency fund as a fun challenge. It's like a game where you level up your financial resilience and score points for adulting like a pro 👀

The rule of thumb is to have enough to cover three to six months of living expenses. It might take time to build, but having an emergency fund can provide peace of mind and financial stability.

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Budgeting Apps

Knowing where your money goes each month is an important first step in achieving financial freedom. With a budgeting app, you can see where every dollar goes so that you're able to identify spending leaks, and make adjustments where needed.

Cleo synchronizes with your bank accounts and automatically categorizes your transactions. She'll even send you alerts when you're close to your budget limit.

Key features of Cleo include:

💙 Money Tracking – Cleo offers insights into your spending habits by categorizing your spends, helping you understand where your money's going 🥡
💙 Budgeting – Helpful budgeting tools which let you set spending targets for different categories like groceries, eating out, or utilities.
💙 Savings – Cleo can help you save money by analyzing your income and spending patterns, then setting aside small, affordable amounts.
💙 AI-Powered Assistant – Cleo is an AI-powered assistant with a big sis kinda energy. You can ask her questions about your finances, and she'll respond with the benefit of having your entire financial picture at her digital fingertips 💅
💙 Roast Mode – The money app that roasts you. Roast Mode aims to help you put your finances in order by picking up on your bad spending habits and basically roasting the sh*t out of you for it. (All for educational purposes, of course).

Wanna try the best budgeting app out? We don't blame you...

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Remember, budgeting isn't about depriving yourself. It's about making informed decisions about your money. These budgeting tips are tools to help you gain control over your finances and reach your goals 🚀

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Big love. Cleo 💙