A budget tells rupees where to go: A budget is a plan you write before the month begins. It tells every rupee where to go.
Twenty minutes, three numbers: Making one takes about 20 minutes. You need only three numbers: how much comes in, what you must pay, and what you want to save.
Keep the plan visible: Write it on paper and put it on the fridge, or keep it in a notebook. A plan you cannot see is a plan you will forget.
A first try, not a punishment: If the numbers do not add up, do not worry. A budget is not a punishment. It is a first try, and you can fix it next month.
Example
Ayesha's Rs. 100,000 plan: Ayesha's family earns Rs. 100,000. On the 1st, she writes: rent Rs. 25,000, food Rs. 30,000, school Rs. 10,000, bills Rs. 10,000, transport Rs. 5,000, saving Rs. 10,000, other Rs. 10,000.
Check before saying yes: The total is Rs. 100,000. When her son asks for a toy in the second week, she checks the "other" amount before saying yes.
Key Terms
- Budget (بجٹ) — a written plan for the month's money
- Fixed expense (مقررہ خرچ) — an amount that is the same every month, like rent
- Variable expense (بدلنے والا خرچ) — an amount that changes, like food or transport
Fresh diagram to be drawn: A simple budget sheet with five rows and amounts, and a total at the bottom. In Project Desk colours.
- A budget takes 20 minutes and tells every rupee where to go.
- Write it where you can see it.
- A first budget does not need to be perfect. Fix it next month.