How to Properly Budget in 2023

For me, 2023 is when everything is truly back to normal. People are out and about, and kids can now play freely without wearing masks. Finally, everything is back to normal except for our budget. This is the one thing that has changed since the pandemic. 

I've been budgeting my monthly finances since 2017. It hasn't been easy, but it has been very useful for me, especially when I need to check how much I still need to pay vs. how much I've earned and how much I can save. 

This 2023, I've needed to shift my budget allocation because my life goals have also changed. This year, I would like to buy healthier food alternatives rather than the cheap junk foods that I always buy. 

Fruits and vegetables are some things I want to become a staple of in my home. In fact, I even want to grow some in my urban garden because the price of things like onions is just crazy. 

I've added more fish and chicken to our menu, more grains and salads, less meat, and definitely less fried food. I'm finally going to use the air fryer, so I'll shift my budget from oil to a bit more electricity because the air fryer will be used more often. 

Since budgeting can be a hassle for many people, I'd recommend using sites that can help with financial planning and calculating how much money you can save or need to save. I used them, especially when I was new to budgeting, and it's a really good tool to utilize. 

The pandemic has been hard on everyone, but it was also a big eye-opener. Things can change instantly, so we all need to make sure that we are healthier, have a big nest egg to fall back on, and live more sustainably. 

This 2023, when you plan your budget, identify what matters most to you and allot the major part of your resource to this. For me, it'll be building a nest egg and becoming healthier. 

We don't need to make things complicated. We just need to know what matters to us, and then we shift our budget and finance to accommodate it.