What is it to Buck the Budget? 

As you might guess by the name alone, we are throwing conventional budgeting advice out the window. This may seem like an outrageous suggestion, after all, we have been told to use budgets to contain our spending so that we (ideally) have something leftover in the end to save.

If we have been taught to budget, then why aren’t we getting ahead faster?

Why does managing our money seem so hard?

Here is why budgeting isn’t working for us:

Reason #1: We aren’t using budgets in the first place. Which leads to another question: why aren’t we using them? Many of us postpone or avoid budgeting because it is a royal pain in the ass! In order to effectively budget, we need to track expenditures. Ain’t nobody got time for that. I’m an accountant, and even I don’t have the patience to track all of my expenditures. Now, I do track costs for my business clients because we have to for tax purposes. But if you aren’t a business, then you don’t need to track everything.

Reason #2: We ARE using budgets, but we’re not sticking to them. There are a whole bunch of reasons why this is often the case. See my future blog post addressing this.

—Newsflash!!!—
Budgets, like diets…DON’T WORK.

If you are one of the very few for whom budgeting works, then kudos to you! You are probably an accountant and if not, you might consider a career as one because you clearly love tracking numbers. But even for you, I suggest that to Buck the Budget is an easier and more realistic approach. Who doesn’t need more ease in their lives?

How do we Buck the Budget?

To Buck the Budget is simply reversing our order of cash flows. Instead of spending first and attempting to contain this with a budget, we SAVE FIRST. We do the important thing upfront just like we know we should. Like finishing your healthy dinner before indulging in dessert! Or completing a task before clocking out and curling up with a crossword puzzle or a walk in the sunshine. 

Oh and hey, we are all adults here so by all means, eat dessert first, or play and put off work, or spend first. Just keep in mind that our waistlines, performance reviews, and bank accounts will keep score.

After doing the right thing first, we then SPEND THE REST. Yep, the rest, all of it.

You probably thought I was ready to come down on you about spending as little as possible and “minding the gap” in order to save more. I understand since that’s what we’ve all been told before. But if you have Bucked the Budget, you have already taken care of your saving – you’ve already done that most important thing. No one cares what you do with the rest! This is your reward for having paid yourself first and saved like you should and want to (after all, this is YOUR money). Go hog wild!

“Buck the Budget balances my financial goals with the lifestyle I want to live. This puts the two together for the win! I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.”
– VP

What is Buck the Budget?

Buck the Budget is a guided three-step financial plan designed to help you take control of your cash flows. We have an easy-to-use Excel Toolkit for download which assists you in wrangling all of your income and expenses upfront, then sets things largely on autopilot going forward. This provides you with a high-level view and clarity of your money.

No more budgeting or tracking. No more wondering where your money goes each month – you’ve got this. 

We also provide additional information and support in the way of video tutorials, an action checklist, member-only Q&A events, and first access to additional resources.

If you are ready to take control of your money and finally get ahead, all in just minutes instead of hours each month…then you are ready to Buck the Budget.

Join us!  Sign-up at buckthebudget.com.