Welcome to Budget Bootcamp

Week 1 | Day 1 | GB 101: Budget Bootcamp

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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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.

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2,333 thoughts on “Welcome to Budget Bootcamp”

  1. Likely will work on the budgeting in the evening. But, my schedule might cause that to flex. The place my wife and I are in is that we have just gotten loose with our spending over the years and want to find a budgeting tool that is simple to use and uses the declining balance, envelope system. We want to live on our retirement income and make room within it for the special stuff of vacations and time our kids and new grandbaby. We have been blessed by the Lord our whole lives and want to steward what He has given us well.

    Reply
  2. I’m excited to get started and hope this will help me budget and save for any future emergencies. I plan on working on these assignments after work when it’s quiet and can focus.

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  3. I’m hopeful this plan will help be stay focused and budget. I plan on working on these assignments in the morning during by me time.

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  4. Hola 🙂
    My plan is to have an overview in the evenings or early mornings, to help me keep track of all the expenses and to get an overall picture of my financial capacity, Goodbudget has a great concept and im looking forward to learn more through the process.

    Reply
  5. I am excited to start this journey and take back control of my finances. I am looking forward to achieving my financial freedom.

    I will be working on my assignments in my home office on my laptop. I will be working on these during weekends as I am pretty busy during the week days.

    Reply
  6. hoping this helps us be able to set and keep a budget. will likely be doing these assignments whenever the hubby and i have free time to go over them, planning to get as many done as possible per week at a time

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  7. Likely to work o the assignments in the mornings and afternoons while at work. I already have a budget but looking forward to learning where i am making mistakes as what i write down never matches what happens in reality

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  8. Ready to learn good habits. What I’ve been doing isn’t getting me where I want to be! Plan to do this each night after kids are in bed and house is quiet.

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  9. Plan on working on them early before others wake up hopefully – with a cup of coffee or late at night when everyone has slept
    Excited to learn how to form a budget, update it and keep it

    Reply
  10. When I get home from work I have a couple of hours before I start dinner. I look forward to spending with a clear conscious!

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  11. I was confident in my financial plan and then life took multiple unexpected turns and I didn’t just end up at square one, I’ve ended up very far behind. I am excited at the prospect of goodbudget being able to guide me in the direction to get back on track.

    Reply
  12. I’ve been looking for a way to help me with my budgeting for years, & now I think I might have found my answer! My sister said when she was starting out on her own she used the “envelope method” & I think I might’ve found the “virtual” version of her method!

    Reply
  13. I’m going to complete assignments at my desk throughout the week. I’m excited to learn about how to save money and budget properly while paying for college.

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  14. At the moment my schedule varies, but I will aim to complete assignments in the morning before I start the day. Hopefully, that will set me on the right track for the day.

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  15. I plan to complete the assignments first thing in the morning, I’ll brew a coffee and have some snacks, and hit the road running!

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  16. Looking to start and keep to a budget. Will be working on the assignments at my desk in the evening before bedtime.
    This is something that should have been done a long time ago, however, better late than never, right? 🙂

    Reply
  17. I just brought the program. I had a hard time at first but I think I got it now. I’m ready, Who else is?

    Reply
  18. Hello Everyone

    Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th!

    I am super excited about this course! I have long been struggling to manage my finances to where I’ll have more savings, and I feel that this course can help me get to where I want to be. I plan to do my homework for this course Sundays: 6pm-7pm, Mondays: 4pm-7pm, Fridays: 3pm-4pm, and Saturdays: 10am-11am.

    I’m on board!

    Reply
  19. Is there some instruction on how to use the App. I loaded it, but got very frustrated. Then I discovered, that you have to get started at goodbudget.com; then you can do a few things on the App, but not a lot. Some instruction on how to enter envelope data, delete data, figure out what all the fields mean, etc would be very helpful. Also this course, seems like I’m going around in a circle. I sign in with my email and password. It gives a little welcome, then asks again for my email and password.

    Also, I am trying to help a person with limited education. Reading is a problem. Is there a course with audio, or maybe even some illustrations one can actually see, or is it all reading?

    Reply
    • Hi Steve — sorry for the difficulties getting started. It’s true that there are some features that are available in the website version and not the mobile apps, but you should be able to get started in any of those places. As for help resources, the first place I would check would be our Help Center here (https://goodbudget.com/help/), which answers many of the most commonly-asked questions and has a Getting Started Guide. If you have any further specific questions, please always feel free to ask us at support@goodbudget.com.

  20. Excited about starting a new budget hoping that it would get me to my goal only my own building and laundromat. I will be doing the assignment on my break at work and at home after work.

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  21. I am looking forward to doing this early in the morning. Hoping to be most alert and fresh to learns new skills.

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  22. I will do the courses during my lunch break. I’m tired of living paycheck to paycheck and what to have a good retirement in 25 years

    Reply
  23. I plan on working on the assignments after my husband goes to bed. I’m excited to get a better handle on my spending.

    Reply

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