Making time to plan for various important tasks can be challenging. A few examples of these tasks include working out, cooking, cleaning, and budgeting. These tasks are a foundation to a healthy lifestyle. They do not, however, require perfection. Acknowledge what you can handle and, if needed, ask for help. Assistance from a friend, family, or a professional, allows us to balance the most important resource in life: time.

Budgeting is essential to financial well-being. Budgeting puts you in control of your money, instead of the money controlling you. A budget will help slow spending for anyone who feels that their paycheck is gone as soon as it hits their bank account. Allocating funds ahead of receiving them will show what you can spend after the necessary expenses are covered. You will know that buying those new expensive shoes or the newest video game may mean that you might not be able to cover this month’s rent. Budgeting will help you pay rent first, and save extra money towards a future purchase. Once you have the savings, you might even find that you do not want the item, and instead of buyer’s remorse, you will have extra savings. That is a true win-win!

Budgeting may seem understandably daunting and restrictive. It could even be compared to chores we have to do around the house. Once you start implementing a budget, though, you will see that you hold all the power. Do not fear your budget. Embrace it. It is your hard-earned money, and you should be the boss of it.

Editor: Melinda Kovacs