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.
2,205 thoughts on “Welcome to Budget Bootcamp”
My wife and I will do these together after the kids go to bed. I will probably do most of the data entry, but we will sit down weekly to confirm and/or tweak the budget.
I’ll do it after lunch when my kids are online.
I’m going to do mine in the morning before my jog every dsy
Excited to begin, will work on assignments mid morning after breakfast with my coffee.
I’ve scheduled homework sessions on my calendar for Tuesday/Thursday evenings at 7PM.
Excited to get started and get control of my finances!
I have always kept some type of a budget especially when I was a single mom and my children were younger. I got sick and got into debt but but now that they are grown I can work full time again and want to get out of debt. I plan on doing my homework in the evening when I am relaxing after work.
I’ll do mine in the morning before work and the gym
Excited to learn more about Goodbudget. Like how semi-monthly works. I still have questions.
Excited to take finances and own them.
I’ll be doing my assignments in bed before I go to sleep
In the am over coffee. Excited to take better control of our finances and if possible to save some $$ for the kids.
We’ll do as we spend, plus look at bank accounts daily or weekly for direct deposits/debits.
I have scheduled for the day before payday, and then about halfway through the week.
I will look at these assignments in the evening when my kids have gone to bed.
i will work on the budget in the evening at my desk or in bed and will review with my husband.
I do this in the morning while my house is still quiet and I can focus.
I will work on budget in the evenings when kids are in bed. I’m excited to feel confident in managing finances all on my own.
I plan to do my assignments when my kids are in bed. I also plan to do them daily and review them with my husband afterwards.
I am getting divorced and I am terrible with money. I plan on spending 10 minutes a day at the table working on my budget.
I plan to do these assignments after the kids are in bed, 2030. I am planning that this will be ten to thirty minutes two or three times per week. I will involve my spouse as much as possible.
Would like to be a good steward of my blessings. Your good budgeting course has shown up at the right time.
I will do mine in the morning to start the day fresh.
Probably during my lunch break
I am an early riser. I will do it early in the morning before my day begins. Will allocate 20-30mins to this and financial literacy in general. I need to get out of debt and form a healthy financial habit.
I will complete my assignments after dinner, spending about 20 – 30min each night on my budget and sort out my terrible financial situation
I am an early riser so I will do these assignments before my day starts. I need to be on a budget so I can retire and succeed in my retirement.
I’m in treatment Court and have to complete a budget class
I’m excited bout taking this class
I’m going to do it at my lunch time.
They say it’s never too late to learn! I am 77 years old and live off SSI. It’s usually a very thin line to walk with free money for expenses. I got into a small debt cycle with credit cards as things came up and I need to pay down my debt now. I think this program will be useful in keeping me aware of where my money is going. I plan on really spending time to learn during the day and evening hours!
I’m going to do it after lunch when my son is in school.
I will be doing the courses on my lunch break at work or right after i get home from work.
My wife and I will sit down to this, after the kids go to bed. I am mostly excited about following through with this and hoping the program lives up to the hype. A friend recommended this app.
I will do every day in sections around 12pm.
I will be doing my homework after completing my morning routine.
I’m excited about learning how to save and being able to survive with whatever financial situation I’m in.
I’ll be doing my homework in the morning in my office before I start work!
I plan to do these assignments in my room by sitting down in the evening.
I’m excited to learn how to properly budget and track my daily expenses so I can maximize my savings and investments by knowing where my money is going.
Will complete each night in my room. Hoping to tell my money where it goes responsibly and get a better savings built.
I plan to do my homework when commuting and at night before sleep, because it’s me time.
I will work on my planning in the mornings.
I’ll do mine first thing in the morning, with coffee, after prayer and meditation and yoga.
This is pretty exciting! I was really confused about how to do this budget thing because it looked very confusing. I needed to know step by step and how it was going to work. I plan on doing my assessments everywhere and when I have a chance
I plan to work on mine after breakfast and share with my husband. I’m also working to implement a time budget for my day, so Goodbudget assignments will be a part of my daily schedule.
I will be doing mine early evening at my desk with my husband
I’ll work on these lessons in the morning at home before work. I’m hoping to learn how to set a realistic budget that allows me to reach financial goals + have fun living life.
I will be doing mine at my desk early evening. I am excited to try this.
I will do mine in the evening.
First thing in the morning
In the morning and will try to do all assignments for the week in one go, if possible