Managing your household budget

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We’re often tempted to put off the business of budgeting until tomorrow. We tell ourselves we’ll start next week or maybe next month. Then, when we finally work out our budget, it often doesn’t go to plan. We tend to spend more than we thought we would, and our buffer – that surplus of income over expenditure – erodes to nothing.

Sound familiar? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. But whether you like it or not, making a realistic budget – and sticking to it – will help you take control of your money in the long run, so you can get on with enjoying life.

Here’s how you can do it:

Work out your current income

For most of us, this is a matter of checking our payslip or salary credit and seeing what we get (after tax and super).

It’s trickier if you’re a contractor or self-employed, or if your income varies wildly from month to month, so you may need to use your last tax return to work out your weekly net income (after business expenses, GST and PAYG).

Get to grips with your spending and expenses

This is slightly more complicated – and easily underestimated. But getting it right is key to accurately calculating how much you’re spending, and creating a budget that actually works.

Start by taking a good hard look at your bank statements. Go back over the past two or three months (don’t forget the hefty costs that only come up every year – or less) and start recording your expenses in real time so you don’t forget anything.

Decide what you need (and want) to spend your money on

With your income and expenses written down in black and white, it’s time to start grouping them into categories.

Here are the basics – mortgage/rent, food, clothing – along with some essentials – utilities, transport and insurance. Start by figuring out which expense goes into which category

  • Housing expenses The biggest ticket of all includes your rent or mortgage. You’ll have utility bills (gas, electricity, water etc.). And if you own your own place, you may also be due for home maintenance (repairs), home and contents insurance, and rates.
  • Food and drink Your groceries. But also your takeaway lunches and evening meals out. Don’t forget those coffees – and the after-work drinks on Friday. Think about what you can cut back on here to make your budget healthier.
  • Transport This can be easily misjudged. Petrol, is just the start – there’s parking, repairs, preventative maintenance, insurance and, if you want a really robust budget, an allowance for depreciation (with the money diverted to a designated ‘car replacement’ account). Or you can take public transport, but this also has to be factored in.
  • Communication Your mobile, internet and (if you still have one) landline charges.
  • Insurance Health insurance. Life insurance. Perhaps income protection.

Then there are other easily overlooked categories.

  • Health and wellbeing Medical spending (including the dentist) and pharmaceutical costs. Medical or private health insurance. Gym membership and sports club fees.
  • Life and leisure Holidays. Newspapers, magazines, books and DVDs. Movies. Pay TV. Christmas and birthday presents.
  • Debts Which includes personal loans, credit cards, store cards and other loans.
  • Miscellaneous Everything else (including uni fees, childcare, cat costs etc.).

Housing expenses The biggest ticket of all includes your rent or mortgage. You’ll have utility bills (gas, electricity, water etc.). And if you own your own place, you may also be due for home maintenance (repairs), home and contents insurance, and rates. Food and drink Your groceries. But also your takeaway lunches and evening meals out. Don’t forget those coffees – and the after-work drinks on Friday. Think about what you can cut back on here to make your budget healthier. Transport This can be easily misjudged. Petrol, is just the start – there’s parking, repairs, preventative maintenance, insurance and, if you want a really robust budget, an allowance for depreciation (with the money diverted to a designated ‘car replacement’ account). Or you can take public transport, but this also has to be factored in. Communication Your mobile, internet and (if you still have one) landline charges. Insurance Health insurance. Life insurance. Perhaps income protection. Health and wellbeing Medical spending (including the dentist) and pharmaceutical costs. Medical or private health insurance. Gym membership and sports club fees. Life and leisure Holidays. Newspapers, magazines, books and DVDs. Movies. Pay TV. Christmas and birthday presents. Debts Which includes personal loans, credit cards, store cards and other loans. Miscellaneous Everything else (including uni fees, childcare, cat costs etc.).