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.
2,173 thoughts on “Welcome to Budget Bootcamp”
Early morning is best for me. The house is quiet and a great time to work towards my goals with coffee. I’ve always been inconsistent with maintaining a budget, looking forward to achieving this goal for our family.
Same here! I like your idea of sitting in the kitchen, though I’ll drink tea instead. LOL I’m excited to track my spending, see where unintentional waste is happening, and maybe even be more intentional about giving.
Early morning in the office before the start of my work at 8AM
Early morning before 04:30 is best for my schedule
In the evenings on the couch or bed, after the kiddo is down.
Early morning is the best for me. I have been getting up at 5am each day. So I will incorporate this with my morning routine.
I’m opting for evening, it’ll give me time to relax and learn. It is also the time I have set aside to review daily expenditures and make sure all my financial details for the day are input.
I plan on doing assignment throughout the week and after I come home from work
I plan on working on these assignments before I go to bed at night. I’m excited to get my spending under control.
I will complete my assignments in the morning. I feel this will help my spending during the day. I am looking forward to learning. Thank you.
I am curious as to where I fit in with the algorithms you use. Thanks for the opportunity.
I will commit to early morning before I get ready for work. I am trying to clean up my credit so that I can buy a house.
At night after the kids have gone to bed
Going to try to join the 5am club, so early morning is my plan.
Early morning before the kids wake up over coffee.
I want to do the assignments in the morning and upstairs by my computer. I am a 72 yr widow and have been negligent yet anxious doing a budget or accurately tracking my expenses since my husband died. I tried other apps that didn’t work for me so I hope this does. The emails will help keep me on track.
Thank you! Sharon B
Saturday mornings. Do a week at a time.
After work when I can relax and put attention to all the day work
I am planning on looking at assignments in the evening, after work 🙂
I do this first thing in the morning because it’s quieter and I will have no distractions every morning.
I will be working on this in the evening after work, in my office everyday.
On my days off or early morning.
My plan is for evenings and doing the assignment throughout the week.
Early morning is best for us. Before my wife goes to work and before I begin my studies.
Plan to do the assignments in the evenings before bed. Excited to be able to stick with a budget.
Early morning in the home office before yoga at 6AM. I’m excited to gain control of my finances and have a better idea of where money goes and can be saved.
Throughout the week and after work
After work.
I have a budget just need to learn how to stick to it abs control my spending.
Throughout week
In the evenings on the couch. Probably whole week at one time otherwise might feel a bit disjointed for me.
Monday of every week in the morning is the best for me, knowing what I ended with last week and plan for next week
On the train to work is best for me
Evenings are preferable for me.
Looking forward to reviewing good budgeting principles for the New Year. After lunch on my day off works best for me.
In the evening when it’s quite and I concentrate.
I’ll be doing a little everyday after work.
Late at night will work for me.
I plan to do them around 9am in my office
I will work on my lunch hour.
I will do my assignments at my desk at 8:52 PM I’m excited about this because finally I’m going to stick to a budget
Early afternoon is my goal
Im looking forward to this coarse, i will do my assignments after the kids are all in bed and the house is nice and quiet.
I’m looking more to manage my finances. And to improve my credit.
I look forward to this course also. Have done budgets before with Quicken but the software didn’t really teach much about how a is suppose to work or whether you are heading in the right direction with your strategies. I prefer to take a class that teaches how to have fun with a budget…make the budget work for me versus having to work at budgeting.
Before work every morning at 8am… kids and husband are out the door and I have a few minutes to myself
I am an hour insomniac therefore I will likely do the work in the wee hours of the morning!
I am looking forward to this. I think in the evening after dinner and all the chores for day is done. That would be the best time for me to do my assignments.
At night and in the mornings for me
I am excited to up my budgeting strategy’s. I have big goals this year!!
Mid-morning
I look forward to finding out where my money is going. I want to make my money work for me as I prepare for retirement
Before closing my day would be the most workable schedule for me!