Keeping track of your budget...

Budgeting is fundamental to our financial wellbeing but when was the last time you reviewed yours? 

A budget is a ‘living’ document that will change depending on your financial needs and personal circumstances. It’s not set-in stone, so be prepared to update it regularly when your bills go up or down or if your income changes.

​Monitoring your budget regularly is probably one of the most important parts of the plan that will help you become a better money manager and encourage you to remain in control of your finances...

Top 3 tips for tracking your budget:

1. Keep your budget visible – there’s no point keeping it in a drawer or on a laptop.  Put on the fridge, save it on your phone notes but keep it somewhere accessible.  That way you can see what’s happening and adjust your plan when necessary. 

2. Sense Check your numbers – when you have your completed budget, take a look and decide if it’s looks right to you or if there might be things missing.  Often we underestimate our spending and overestimate our income so always check to see if the numbers feel right.  Remember to add everything…even your lunchtime coffee! 

​3. Set yourself notifications – Stop Insta scrolling and make editing your budget a weekly activity.  Set a notification on your phone or in your diary to remind yourself.  When you do this regularly it will become a habit and second nature to you.   Once you’re a budgeting whizz, it won’t take long at all. 
Not sure where to start? 

The MoneyHelper budget planner or the downloadable Money Saving Expert budget spreadsheet are fantastic templates to help you get your finances in order.


Emma Waller (check out her avatar on these posts!) is FinWELL's Head of Content and oversees FinWELL Insights.

Emma is an award-winning financial wellbeing consultant with extensive experience supporting people to improve their financial knowledge, skills and behaviours and most notably co-authored Martin Lewis’s “Your Money Matters” book. ​