When I started this site, I just wanted to cover stuff that would matter in people's lives, and share my story. There are so many sources for how to do a budget, but I want to just give people some idea of what to expect, and maybe see some way forward that wasn't there before. So I'm going into some places that is just truth, but most people may be uncomfortable talking about.
I'm a Christian — faith comes first. But the second best tool, or weapon depending on how you look at it, to help in life is money. So before you start writing down numbers, let me cover some facts.
Assuming you don't fall into either of those categories, we can talk about real budgeting.
First, I'm not going to just repeat what every source says — like "save 10% every month." Maybe I will! But I have to add a few caveats.
Getting a credit card with space in the thousands, hopefully, becomes the rest of your emergency fund. Got $1,000? It's a start. Put a bit back every month until you reach $5,000 — between savings and available credit. That's real emergency money.
This stuff is optimal. Save to $10,000? Glorious! It's a goal. But do what you can. Take care of living first. I never had $10,000 saved — I always seemed to have problems, some self-inflicted. I did reach above $5,000 for a while, but that was with a paid-up credit card. And hey, I made decent money!
The rest of my budgeting advice is straightforward: live as cheaply as you can and feel comfortable. There's no big secret.
Here's all you do — figure out your monthly numbers honestly:
Add it all up. Then add 5%. That gives you a bumper — and it's probably more realistic than a perfect number. That's your monthly target.
Others will tell you to use buckets, envelopes, apps — a bucket for this, an envelope for that. Why complicate things? Just have enough money available — the total you figured — and make payments when they come due.
After getting credit cards in decent shape — not necessarily completely paid off, but at a comfortable monthly payment with one card fully available — and at least $1,000–$2,000 in cash, it's time to put your money to work.
Conventional wisdom says pay off the cards completely first. I say: once you have a place where you feel comfortable with payments and a safety net of some size, start trying to make money. Invest. Get in the habit. Start as soon as you feel comfortable. Just like growing the emergency fund a little every month until you're truly comfortable.
My best budgeting advice is simply to make as much money as you can, without stressing too much. But take everything into account.
I realized who I am — I don't save money easily. My retirement was a question mark for a long time. But when I got a job with DCCCD (now Dallas College), I knew I had my answer. The retirement plan was far better than just paying into Social Security. If I kept my job, I would probably be okay — so I did. I didn't have a huge nest egg when I retired, but I had a decent retirement.
So take everything into consideration. Your job, your benefits, your habits, your goals. A budget isn't just numbers on paper — it's a picture of your life and where you want it to go.
This isn't a long, drawn-out plan. A budget is simple: figure out how much you need per month. Then spend less and save. The rest is up to you.
Life Matters Faith • Basic Budgeting • Updated 2026