The 4 D's of Budgeting -- How to Be a Successful Budgeteer

To be successful in budgeting, there are 4 key things that must be present. We'll call them the 4 D's of budgeting.

1. Desire

Desire is a key part of budgeting. Without a desire to change the financial situation that you are currently in, you won't take the necessary steps to correct and change the situation.

2. Decision

After you have finally figured out that you desire to make a change and you want to create a budget, you have to make the decision that you are going to go through the first initial steps of creating the budget. No matter how painful it is. No matter how bad it makes you feel.

3. Determination

If you have got this far in your desire to control your finances, then you have to become determined. It's time to pull out the receipts and start creating. You divide the receipts into categories. You're either using pen and paper or you have a computer program to use. You're analyzing the situation. You're about to look at the numbers on your spending habits.

It is in this step that you might really get cold feet and decide to just let things just keep on as they are. You might think that budgeting is just to hard for you. You might think that the numbers are lying. That one is a good one!!! Not a chance. The numbers tell the story of what you are doing with your money and why you have a lack thereof.

Determination will play a key part in the success or failure of your budget. Determining what your attitude will be in this process is vital. If you are going to have a negative attitude toward the success of your budget then there is little way that it will be successful. If you have a positive attitude that it is going to work, that you are going to get control of your finances, then your budget will be a success.

When you become determined that your budget is going to be successful, then it will lead to the next step which is dedication.




4. Dedication

There is a reason that dedication is last in the list. Dedication to the budget can be the one thing that can be the success or failure of your budget. You can have all the three other "D's" but if you don't have this one, it really won't matter. The most well thought out, well designed budget may look pretty on the computer screen or paper, but it won't work and it won't last if you are not dedicated to it.

Being dedicated to following the budget means that you are going to follow the budget. You are going to make the minor adjustments that come up along the way -- taking the time to tweek it so that it becomes second hand to follow.

One way to know that you have become dedicated to the budget is when you go to make that big ticket purchase that you normally wouldn't give a second thought to -- you will stop before making that purchase and ask yourself if it's in the budget or if you can afford it. That's when you know you have arrived at "Budgetville"!!!

The key to financial freedom is living on a budget. Getting started can be a bit overwhelming and even frustrating. When you look at your expenses and bills and see where your money is going, it can be the motivational that may be needed to develop the 4 "D's" of budgeting. Developing the dedication to the budget can be the success of your budget and change your financial situation.