Budgeting is like a colonoscopy: a pain in the a$$ but very necessary.

Don’t worry! Budgeting is a lot simpler than most people think. You don’t need to be a financial genius or spend hours tracking every penny.

With just a couple of straightforward steps, you can SEIZE control of your money, plan for the future, while still enjoying life right now.

How’s that sound?

Here’s the easiest budgeting guide you’ll ever read. It’ll take just 4 minutes to get you started.

Step 1: Figure out your monthly income

The first step is knowing how much money you bring in every month. This includes your paycheck, any side hustle income, or money from other sources like your investments.

Tip: Make sure to focus on take-home pay—that’s what you get after taxes and deductions. This is the money you actually have to work with.

Step 2: Track your expenses (but keep it simple)

Don’t overcomplicate this step. You don’t need to track every coffee or snack you buy. Just focus on your big categories:

1. Housing: Rent or mortgage, utilities, internet

2. Transportation: Gas, public transport, car payments

3. Groceries: How much you spend on food every month

4. Debt: Credit cards, student loans, or other payments

5. Savings/Investments: Retirement funds, emergency fund, etc.

6. Fun Money: Eating out, entertainment, hobbies, etc.

If you’re not sure what you’re spending, just look back at your last couple of bank or credit card statements. You’ll get a good idea.

There’s also a ton of spend-tracking apps like YNAB. Not sponsored! But check ‘em out.

Step 3: Use the 50/30/20 rule

This is the simplest budgeting rule out there, and it works for almost everyone.

• 50% of your income goes to needs. These are things you must pay for: housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and debt payments.

• 30% of your income goes to wants. This is your fun money for things like eating out, Netflix, hobbies, and your crippling gambling addiction.

• 20% of your income goes to savings or debt payments. This helps you build up savings for the future or pay off debt faster.

If you want to save more, you can tweak the percentages. But this is a good place to start.

Step 4: Automate your savings

Make saving money as easy as possible by automating it. Set up a monthly transfer from your checking account to your savings account, so you don’t even have to think about it. Aim to save at least 10-20% of your income each month.

Tip: Start small if you need to. Even saving $50 a month is better than nothing. You can always increase the amount as you go.

Step 5: Adjust and review

Once you have a budget, check in on it once a month. Look at your spending, see if you’re on track, and make any necessary changes. Life happens—sometimes you’ll spend more, and other months you’ll save more. The key is to stay flexible but focused.

Final thoughts

Budgeting doesn’t have to be a strict, joyless experience - kind of like that colonoscopy. The goal is to help you plan where your money goes, so you have more control and less stress. By following this simple guide, you’ll set yourself up for financial success while still enjoying your life along the way.

It’s all about progress, not perfection.