Create a Budget!
The first step in creating a budget is finding an effective, easy-to-use tool to help you track your spending, see where your money goes, and stay in control.
Online Budget Planner Tool
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada has created an online budget planner that can help you create a customized budget in three easy steps. You can even save your work online and come back to it.
The tool will give you tips and suggestions to figure out your next steps, create charts to show where your money goes, and optionally compare your budget with other Canadians like you.
Visit Government of Canada Budget PlannerI Have A Budget – Now What?
First of all, congratulations for making it this far in our budgeting series! You have already worked through lots of tough stuff along the way and should pat yourself on the back for your hard work. I am proud of you for sticking with it even when it was hard. You are on the right track.
Creating a budget isn’t the last step — now we must maintain our budget (which may be the hardest work yet!)
Here are three tips to help you maintain your budget:
Stay Organized
Staying organized is key to success. Print off a copy of your budget to keep in a binder so you can review and tweak it as your financial situation changes.
Track Spending & Limits
Knowing where your money goes and setting spending limits is positive. Start a notebook to track daily spending or keep track of your limit-setting.
Don’t Give Up
You may experience setbacks, but don’t give up. Maintaining a budget gets easier the more you do it, and the more successful you will be!
Review the Budgeting Series
Now that you understand where your money is going, the difference between “needs” and “wants”, and the role of budgeting to set limits in gambling entertainment, you are ready to start! If you want to review core concepts, check out these blogs in our series:
Need Help or Have Questions?
Reach out anytime for free, confidential assistance and support across PEI at the PEI Gaming and Gambling Support Line.