Money

6 Things That Make Budgeting Really, Really Hard—and How to Handle Them

From self-care supplies to emergency funds, we've got you covered.
Image may contain Piggy Bank and Toy
Peter Dazeley

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

You've built a budget. Good job! But actually sticking to it each month? Eh, not so easy.

Even the most responsible women have an Achilles' heel that they can count on to bust their budgets each month. For many of the women we spoke to, budget breakers are as simple as a chipped nail or as stressful as a flat tire. These women are trying hard to be financially responsible, but these budget busters are constantly getting in the way, ruining budget lines and bank account balances.

So we brought six common budgeting issues to two financial experts. We've asked them for their best advice to beat them back and not let them mess you up next month. Read on, and save up.

1. Self-care needs. Like 26-year-old Victoria H., you might have a manicure or two worked into your monthly budget. "But there are times when a nail breaks or snags, and I try to wait it out, but eventually I find myself at the nail salon getting it fixed," she admits. And the extra $15 treatment is enough to undermine a financial plan.

Here's the thing: You're getting your nails done—or a weekly blowout—in order to make yourself feel better. But going over budget will actually make you feel worse.

"People often bust their budgets for temporary 'self-care' while wreaking havoc on their overall well-being," says finance expert and LexION Capital owner Elle Kaplan, who suggests taking a more wholesome approach to your self-care budget lines.

"It’s still possible to do little things for yourself to boost your esteem and confidence when you’re on a budget," she points out. "For instance, running has proved benefits for your happiness and well-being, and it’s a lot cheaper than a nail salon."

But if you really can't wait to fix that nail chip—or you are just not into working out the same way you are into OPI's new color line—there's a more practical solution to your problem: Rather than pay for your spa experiences piecemeal, try to find a package that includes maintenance services, suggests Leanne Jacobs, wealth expert and author of Beautiful Money: The 4-Week Total Wealth Makeover. "It never hurts to use sites such as Groupon," Jacobs adds, "or to plan a girls' night and learn how to do each other’s manicures. That way, $30-plus can go into a savings account per month."

2. Paying now with money you don't yet have. You may throw things on a credit card, like 27-year-old Allison C., who says she charges almost everything in order to rack up points on her favorite card—only to lose track of what's she's spent and end up short when it comes time to pay the bill. Or maybe, like 25-year-old Savannah S., delayed gratification just isn't your thing. "I think to myself, I'll just throw this $20 happy hour bill on my credit card and pay it off when I get my paycheck," she says. "But that takes away $20 from my next paycheck budget, and that's a vicious cycle."

Before you charge anything to a credit card, however, "ask yourself if you want to buy that item three times over, because that’s how much you’ll end up paying after high-interest credit card debt piles up," warns Kaplan. "Credit cards can be a helpful financial tool, but that’s only if you don’t let them affect your spending decisions."

One easy way to make sure you never spend what you don't have is to go on a cash-only diet. "Take out enough money to last you the week and spend only this," Jacobs says. "If you don't have the cash, you'll have to say no. It may just be for a week, but it will create fabulous money momentum." Continue it as long as you need to.

3. Not talking to your partner. If you're paired up, then, like 30-year-old Ashley G., you know communication can be key to your budgeting success. "My hubby and I have money parties every two weeks where we check in on our spending and earning as well as tackle any other financial to-dos," she says. "But schedules can book up and if we end up waiting an extra week or two to [talk], I notice a definite increase in our spending. It's so easy to disconnect from where our money is going."

To avoid letting silence break up your budget, "you should treat these financial discussions as nonnegotiable, just as you would with any important event as a couple," says Kaplan. "Even better, tie some fun into these discussions, such as a cocktail or a nice dinner, so they become something to look forward to." Jacobs also suggests scheduling money talks with your S.O. eight weeks in advance. "Plan your other events around that meeting and you will surely become diligent," she insists.

4. Giving in to temptations. Anne M., 23, knows how much she can spend each week on groceries. "But when I go to the store hungry, I can't seem to keep myself from adding all kinds of extras to my cart," she admits. "And then, at the end of the month, I've overspent all because of my cravings for chips. In other words, Anna just can’t resist the siren call of snacks. But for Katie L., 32, temptation looks a little more like the chance to unwind with her BFFs. "After a long day at work, I can never seem to say no to a glass of wine with my friends," she says.

Whatever tempts you, giving in here or there can cause big budgeting troubles at the end of the month. So to stay in budget, you have to find a way to remove temptations however works for you. "You shouldn’t keep a jar of chocolate chip cookies in your house when you’re on a diet," says Kaplan. "On that same note, you should take steps to remove financial temptations from your life, because nobody has unlimited willpower." This is another place where an all-cash diet can help, she says. If you're tempted by extras at the store, for example, only take cash on your next Giant Eagle adventure. Or, if you need that girl time to unwind, "instead of having them tempt you with wine, let them know about your efforts," Kaplan says. "They’ll provide accountability for sticking to your plan, instead of dishing out pressure to spend."

5. The allure of saving money. Does 28-year-old Catherine G.'s budget buster sound at all familiar? "Sales at my favorite stores sometimes come with a catch: to save more money, you have to spend more," she says. "So let's say I give myself $50 a month to spend on clothes. If I spend $50 at this store, I'll get $10 off, but if I spend $100, I'll save $30. Yep, I'm about to go $30 over my budget."

But by busting your budget this way, you're falling into a money trap stores have set specifically for people like you, says Kaplan. "Don’t mistake saving money for falling prey to sneaky psychological marketing tricks," she says. "Stores like to create a sense of urgency and value with sales and deals, but the reality is that they’re lining their pockets while yours are getting lighter." Kaplan suggests that the next time you are faced with a sale, focus on what you're actually spending, not the discount. It's a trick she uses herself. "This removes the sense of urgency," she explains, "and it allows me to cool down and see if it fits in my budget."

Another way to sidestep sales, Jacobs says, is to dream bigger than the sandals you have been eying for summer. "Write out your dream life and financial situation for one year from today," she suggests. "When it's a perfect fit for you and it brings tears to your eyes, you will effortlessly smile and walk right past those types of deals."

6. Valid—but unplanned—expenses. You may be able to plan for your phone bill. But what about a business expense that pops up out of nowhere? How do you slot in a conference ticket or a new mouse into a monthly budget? Or, as Alana Y., 25, says, "I don't exactly have a budget line for a flat tire," or any other emergency expense.

If you're one of the many members of the gig economy and you're paying for your own business expenses, Jacobs encourages you to categorize all the various items you may have to pay out of pocket for, and plan them out to the best of your ability. "You may need to spend a little time to figure out the correct categories for your business," she says, "but having categories for grooming, training and development, travel, and memberships and dues might be appropriate." You can also work with an accountant, she suggests, to help you plan a business budget for the year.

When it comes to emergencies, "accidents and surprises do happen," Kaplan warns, "and the only way to keep your budget on track is to plan for these shifts in fortune with an emergency fund." Paying that fund can become part of your monthly budget. "You’ll want to stow away at least six months’ worth of living expenses," she advises.