I was thinking about why more people and families don’t have a budget.
It’s really the thing to do to keep track of your expenses and income and make sure you don’t go over with your spending. I thought about all the different excuses I’ve heard and seen from people.
So why haven’t you started a budget? Here are some common reasons:
You Don’t Want To Be Told What To Do
A budget can tell you how much you actually have to spend and what you can afford every month. You don’t want to be told where your money has to go and you don’t want to hear that you can’t spend when you want.
A Budget Constrains You
You feel choked by the limitations of a budget. Can’t spend what I want on clothes. {Cough, cough.} Can’t go out for coffee drinks every day. {Choke.} The mere thought of a budget starts to make you feel walled in.
You Can’t Do What You Want
What fun is it to know you can’t afford to go out to eat four times a week? Who wants that. You want to be able to spend freely and do what you feel at the moment. That’s what freedom is, isn’t it?
Can’t Give Up Your Ego And Admit You Need To Control Your Spending
You refuse to believe that you have a spending problem. You’re living an illusion. Even though it causes stress you always find a way out of your financial messes without learning the lessons. When there’s a will there’s a way and you can spend what you want. Everything’s ok.
Your Expenses Are Too Big To Get Your Head Around
You want to have a budget but you don’t know where to start. You’ve tried to get a few bills together but the task seems too big so you end up giving up. You’re not organized enough to get everything together. You may not even know all of the bills you pay every month. It’s too much.
You’re Afraid
You don’t even want to see what your finances are! To actually put a number to your expenses would give you a heart attack (not literally but close enough). You know it’s bad but you really can’t stand to see the actual figures.
It Takes Too Much Energy And Time
You don’t have the time to put all of your receipts and bills together. You work a 9 to 5 five that’s rarely just that and when you come home the last thing you want to do is more work.
It’s Depressing
It just doesn’t make you feel good to see your finances in a budget. You would rather not put yourself into a funk so you ignore the idea of a budget.
You Manage To Get By Without One
Your bills get paid. Money goes into savings. You invest. What do you need a budget for? (I’ll answer that one in another post).
That’s nine excuses a person might not have a budget. Does one of these resemble you? Can you think of others?
See Part II: Excuse Busters For Not Having A Budget!
