If you’re like most people, you don’t particularly enjoy managing your monthly budget. Maybe you’ve even given up budgeting altogether because it was too tedious. We hear you! Here are five budgeting tips to help spark the savings flame:

1. Choose a budgeting method that fits your life.

The best exercise is the one you’ll do. The same concept applies here. If you’ve burnt out on budgeting in the past, think about why and adjust your budgeting method going forward. Ask yourself:

• Was the budget too restrictive?
• Did you choose a budgeting system that didn’t work for you?
• Did you make budgeting simple and repeatable?

Remember, budgeting isn’t one-size-fits-all, and we’re all different people.

Start by thinking about your life, financial goals and budget expectations. Do you want to know where every dollar is going? Or do you need more flexibility? The answers will shape the budgeting method you choose, how detailed your tracking needs to be and how much time budget management will take you. Start here with the basics of budgeting.

2. Hack the power of habit.

The task of regular financial oversight can feel like a burden. But, like many things you do, it’s something that can be built into your routine to make it a habit. Start small. Schedule time to review your finances one day a week for just 10–15 minutes:

1. Review monthly statements and check your transaction history for any irregularities.
2. Mark upcoming bill due dates on your calendar and schedule any automatic payments, as needed, to avoid late fees.
3. Transfer money to a savings account. The action of regularly saving money — even if it’s just a few dollars — helps you cultivate a budgeting mindset.

Do this basic financial review every week, and you’ll develop a better awareness of your spending and overall financial picture. Over time, financial oversight will become a habit.

3. Review and revisit your budget regularly.

They say the only constant in life is change. This applies to our financial picture too. Your rent, your job, your family size — these are just a few of the many variables that impact your budget. Review your budget every few months and adjust spending and saving categories to fit your needs.

Need a little help tracking your spending? Try the Budgets tool in Grow Online and Mobile Banking!^* Create personalized budgets and monitor where your money goes. Check it out!

4. Don’t forget the long game.

Invest in your long-term financial security by saving at least a few percent of each paycheck in a 401(k), IRA or another retirement account.

It can be difficult to think a few years into the future, let alone decades. However, planning for retirement means playing the long game. Time is your greatest asset. Learn more about compounding interest.

5. Decide which sacrifices are worth it.

You’ll hear some budget gurus suggest that you should never buy a cappuccino or eat at a restaurant again until you’re debt free. That’s just not going to work for everyone and can create an adversarial relationship with budgeting.

It’s true that any effective budget will require you to make some sacrifices, especially if you’re trying to reduce or eliminate debt, but it’s still possible to enjoy your life while managing your finances. Restricting all spending might be a one-way ticket to budgeting burnout. So, our final budgeting tip is:

Decide which discretionary spending is worth it to you and account for it in your monthly budget.

When it comes to financial management, everyone starts somewhere. We encourage you to apply these budgeting tips as you review your financial plan this month. Your future self will thank you!

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• General Education