So, David Bach? Budget?

[nevermind]

I've noticed that his books don't really tell you how to budget. I did some googling and it sounds like he's not really a fan of budgeting?

Just curious. Do you guys budget? Or do you follow more of Bach's automatic plan?

This is, honestly, the biggest flaw I find with Bach. It might work for some people, but in the past we've paid ourselves first, but because we weren't budgeting we were racking up more debt than we were putting into savings. So, I can't really wrap my head around how controlling spending works without planning and tracking it.

[makingithappen]

Jan 9, 2013 17:31:04 GMT -5 nevermind said:

I've noticed that his books don't really tell you how to budget. I did some googling and it sounds like he's not really a fan of budgeting?

Just curious. Do you guys budget? Or do you follow more of Bach's automatic plan?

This is, honestly, the biggest flaw I find with Bach. It might work for some people, but in the past we've paid ourselves first, but because we weren't budgeting we were racking up more debt than we were putting into savings. So, I can't really wrap my head around how controlling spending works without planning and tracking it.

Maybe pay yourself first then know how much money you have for the month. Spend however you see fit but not more than you have?

[flygirl22]

I do budget, and for a long time we did follow the Bach method where we paid our selves first and spent the rest as we pleased. We didn't rack up any debt and we saved what our goal amount each month. DH works a lot of overtime and I don't think it allowed us to utilize our money in the best way we could have. I prefer to budget.

[Roc A Bee]

I don't budget. I do pay myself first, but I just track the rest of my spending. I'm thinking of making a stricter budget, but so far I'm lazy.

So far I haven't loved Bach's book.

[phunluvin82]

Jan 9, 2013 17:34:22 GMT -5 makingithappen said:

Jan 9, 2013 17:31:04 GMT -5 nevermind said:

I've noticed that his books don't really tell you how to budget. I did some googling and it sounds like he's not really a fan of budgeting?

Just curious. Do you guys budget? Or do you follow more of Bach's automatic plan?

This is, honestly, the biggest flaw I find with Bach. It might work for some people, but in the past we've paid ourselves first, but because we weren't budgeting we were racking up more debt than we were putting into savings. So, I can't really wrap my head around how controlling spending works without planning and tracking it.

Maybe pay yourself first then know how much money you have for the month. Spend however you see fit but not more than you have?

Yeah, I think the idea behind it is that you pay yourself first...but then you can only spend what's left...no racking up CC debt. I know he at least mentions in passing cutting up CC's, using debit card instead, etc...it's been a while since I read it though.

I def need a budget...BUT I'm still a David Bach fan. I would love to get to the point where we don't *need* to track our spending so much b/c we are saving enough and only spend what's left. Not there yet though.

[schrodinger]

Jan 9, 2013 17:31:04 GMT -5 nevermind said:

I've noticed that his books don't really tell you how to budget. I did some googling and it sounds like he's not really a fan of budgeting?

Just curious. Do you guys budget? Or do you follow more of Bach's automatic plan?

This is, honestly, the biggest flaw I find with Bach. It might work for some people, but in the past we've paid ourselves first, but because we weren't budgeting we were racking up more debt than we were putting into savings. So, I can't really wrap my head around how controlling spending works without planning and tracking it.

We don't budget for specific categories, I found it too annoying with all the one-offs that tend to occur. I read this article a few years ago and really liked the idea of looking at spending the same total amount in certain categories every month. Now we transfer the same amount to our checking account every month for all our spending and save the balance of our paychecks. For the past three years, we've increased savings by putting the same monthly amount in checking and banking the rest. Where the cuts are coming from, I don't know or care.

money.msn.com/how-to-budget/a-simpler-way-to-save-the-60-percent-solution-jenkins.aspx

[pamela]

Yeah, I tried not budgeting and that really didn't work out for me.

[lys]

Bach's advice tends to be focusing on knowing your values and goals and then using your money work with thoto support those.
Track spending
Track income
Don't spend what you do not have and what does not support your goals
Pay off debt
Save