Welcome to Goodbudget 101: Budget Bootcamp! We’re so excited for you to start this new budgeting journey — one where you’ll create a budget that works for you. And along the way you’ll build habits and learn techniques that will help you live out your budget for the rest of your life.
Now, we’re all starting from different places financially, but we’re all working towards the same goal… making a budget that works. We believe you can make and *keep* a budget. This budget will be your guide to help you spend on what’s important, save for big expenses, and give generously.
Over the next 29 days you’ll receive bite-sized assignments that are practical, reflective and relational and they’re all designed to help you create your new budget utilizing the envelope budgeting method (if you don’t know what that is, learn about it on our website and on YouTube). You can expect to spend about 5 to 10 minutes doing most of the assignments. Every so often there’ll be a longer assignment that will take about 30 minutes. Let’s get started.
Today’s Assignment
- Make a plan for when and where you’d like to do these assignments. Will you spend time working on them at the kitchen table after the kids are in bed, or early in the morning over coffee before everyone gets up? Will you do the assignments for the week all in one day, or divvy them up throughout the week? Deciding this ahead of time will give you a better shot at completing these assignments.
- Comment below and let us know when and where you’re planning to do your homework. Plus, share what you’re excited about learning in this course — and why.
Note for couples: If you share money with someone else, like your spouse, invite them to take this course with you. By working together, you’ll be able to build a solid budget that actually works — for both of you.
That’s it for today! We look forward to seeing you in the next assignment.
Happy budgeting,
-The Goodbudget Team
P.S. If you’re struggling to get ahead because you’re living paycheck to paycheck, GB 30: Break the Cycle might be a good starting place for you. In that course, you’ll spend 30 days working to boost savings and begin building a one-month cushion so you can break the cycle for good.
P.P.S. Or, if you’re currently experiencing a financial emergency, either from taking a pay cut, receiving a large medical bill, or something else, GB 911: Crash Course might be a better fit. There, you’ll learn how to make quick changes to your budget so that you can survive in the short term, adapt to your financial situation, and thrive down the road.
2,182 thoughts on “Welcome to Budget Bootcamp”
I plan to do this in the morning with coffee before the kids wake up.
That’s great
Am going to school in morning for teaching i spent best time with students
I will be doing my homework in the evenings when I get up for work and potentially during break times while at work
I drive an 18 wheeler so while I’m waiting to get loaded I plan on doing my assignments then.
I’m exited to see how I can quit living paycheck to paycheck.
I plan on doing my assignment in the evenings after I have had my dinner.
I’m ready to my assignment here waiting to see I can
I’ll be doing my assignments in the evenings when I have peace and quite.
I plan to do so in the morning
I’ll be doing mine in bed either at the beginning of the day or at the end of the day
I will do my assignments on the weekends. My job involves a long commute so I don’t have a lot of time on weekdays, plus I live with my adult daughter and our 4 and 6 year old grandsons so my weeknights and mornings are full.
I plan to do the assignments in the morning
Will work on it in the morning
We plan on doing the assignments after dinner at the dinner table
I plan to do this in the morning while I drink my coffee.
I plan to do the assignments while I drink coffee before I go feed the horses. I would like to divvy them up over a couple days.
I plan to do assignments in the morning. I’m taking the last few weeks of my paid vacation until mid May, when I officially retire. Having something to do in the am to replace logging into my work laptop and checking Outlook should work.
I’m retiring mid May, and am excited about that prospect. However, am unsure how we can sustain our current lifestyle when living on pension and investment income. Fixed expenses won’t change. We’d like to travel while our health is still good. Hoping a budget will help sort out how to budget for these extra costs. Plus the house always needs maintenance, repairs of some sort.
I’m planning on doing these assignments at night after the kids go to bed at the kitchen table
Hi !
I’m planning to work on the assignments during 30min – 1h once per week at least.
My goal is to have a view on my spending to not struggle at the end of the month and pay off my debts.
Cheers !
I will do it at the end of my day. I’m looking forward to being in control of my money instead of the other way around!