When people hear the word “budget” some folks act like you pushed an old lady off her cane! It’s a bad word and most assume it means you don’t have money to do anything and you are living in poverty. It’s pretty much the opposite. Budgets allow you to do most things you enjoy while also being a financially responsible adult. As Dave Ramsey once said, “A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went”.

That was always my thing. It just irritated the stew out of me when I would have $300.00 and in a weekend it would get up and walk off and I’m left posting “money missing” signs on trees. Like where did it go? For the most part, I was decent at managing money. But for the for the past few years, I have been in a place where I have become more intentional about my money and building wealth for myself and those who will come behind me. By the end of 2019, the only debt I will have, is my home and a student loan. I don’t use credit cards or owe for anything other than household bills. I began contributing more to my “just in case account” or what some would call an emergency account, to my savings, and 401K. Yes, I still take vacations and occasionally splurge on things I really want. Now I just do it a little more purposefully.

Here let me show you. I make a small budget every other week for the money I take in. I count all sources of income: my regular paycheck from my 9-5 employment, any goods I create and sell, writing gigs, and any services rendered through my event or organizing businesses (Kimberly Elaine LLC) and any other income sources. Then I make my list. It’s so important to write things down. I know, I know you keep it in your phone, but there is nothing like pen to paper. For the sake of this example, let’s just go to my regular 9-5 pay which I use for my household bills. Ok, so back to my list. Write down every bill you have to pay with that amount of money. If it’s due before you are paid again it goes on the list. If you have any charitable giving you do, like tithing or any other charitable contributions, write that down also. Your list should also include how much you plan to place in your “just in case/emergency” account and savings. Savings should be totally separate. Emergency money and savings are two different things! I pay myself also. I typically give myself at least $100.00 for my “fun money”. So if I see a cool journal or sweater I want, I use that “fun money”. It’s like limiting yourself but not limiting because you can spend it on whatever you want. Then I have “grocery money/dining out” and “household” money; I do those every time. I typically also budget in fuel, but that varies on where I HAVE to go. If there is another expense I know is coming, say an oil change, I will adjust the household budget since it includes car care.

It’s pretty simple and keeps you from overspending. It also helps with discipline and figuring out what’s important to you. Do you reeeeally need that 14th pair of boots? Or the latest designer handbag? You may just want it and hey that’s fine too. Just remember to save up for it. By the time you save your spending money to get it, you may realize you can live without it. The biggest thing is that budgets help you to become a good steward over what you have now so you can be responsible with what you get later and hit those financial goals! What? No financial goals?! Well we are going to need another blog for that one. Recently, I was reminded of how my father used to say, “You can’t go all the time” simple words that I have learned to live by. I can’t go (or spend) all the time, not because I am broke, but because I am beautifully budgeted.

If you would like more help on budgeting, a sample template and setting attainable financial goals, feel free to email me at girlysqueal@gmail.com I’d be happy to help!

This is the “bio” from the back of my first book. It explains a part of my writing journey. Enjoy!

Author Kimberly E. Smith, has always been a writer of sorts. Her first journal
was given to her by her father with the advice that she could use it to write
about how much she loved him. That was the spark. Throughout her life she
would often retreat to a quiet place and scribble in her many journals detailing
the days, her dreams and aspirations. Although writing was an enormous outlet
for her, she did not share her love for writing with many people until later in
life. Kimberly has contributed to blogs, online magazines and newsletters
through-out her career as a writer and has a blog of her own called “Girly
Squeal”, where she writes about a wide range of topics. She has recently even
shared some of her poetic side on her blog. Although called “Girly Squeal” this
blog allowed Kimberly a chance to showcase her opinions on more adult topics.
Kimberly took a break from writing in the summer of 2014 to become a foster
parent. Over a year later while caring for her second foster child she began to
learn the importance of starting children off early with good habits, especially
reading. She has always believed children are never too young to learn the
importance of caring for their mind, body and spirit. After caring for two
sweet foster children, Kimberly decided that she wanted to come up with a
way she could give to all little children. That’s when the “Little People Read”
Collection was born. “Sleepy Baby Squirm” was accidentally created from a lullaby
Kimberly made up one night while holding her one month old foster child,
“Sweet Pea”. Shortly thereafter, she turned her lullaby into a bedtime story.
Although there are several books in the collection that focus on helping
children develop good habits and skills, bedtime is often the most needed and
most difficult thing for children to get accustom to. Therefore, Kimberly felt
Sleepy Baby Squirm, would be the perfect first book in the
“Little People Read Collection”.

I lied.

I said I loved you when I really didn’t.  I just wanted to make you do things that would cause you to ask for repentance. I laid it on thick. Told you what ever you wanted to hear, and you became my little trick.

I prayed meaningless prayers for you and submitted to your plan. And you did just what I wanted just like a good little puppet. You are far from a real man.

Now, I will move along and have my way in another  life. I found him. He’s sort of like you. Silly, you would give your last to anyone, even those who talk about you.

They take you for a joke and I admit I did too. All I had to do was lie and make you feel like a king and that little check you got, you always would bring.

You don’t think you were the only one did you? How could you think such a foolish thing. You’re a nobody who haphazardly got noticed by me. Oh, did you think I would leave quietly no, no, not me.

I will let everyone know the pitiful pawn you turned out to be. You will only be used until you understand your worth. But you never will because you crave too much attention.

It was fine when you were around, but I liked it when you were gone. I didn’t have to listen to you whine or hide my telephone. Are you wondering if I am talking about you? Why yes I am and him and him too.

You are disposable to me just like the trash you took out. I often wondered why you would never go to your own house. I had other people to see, those that gave me more than you. I know I was spreading myself thin, but I had to entertain them too.

I don’t know how to just be with one person. I want him, you and maybe even your brother too. It’s funny because the one I am with now thinks he’s the one, but he’s just like you, just plain dumb.

I will manipulate him also.

He’ll play right in to my little evil hands. For you, him and you too are nothing but little scared boys. Yes, you thought you were in control. Oh no, can’t you see? The one in control and always will be little pretty me.

I usually don’t write about what is in the news, but I was saddened to learn about Toya Wright, author and reality tv star, losing both her brothers at the same time. She has since put them to rest and i pray that in time her and her family learn to cope with their loss. No, I don’t know her personally but my heart aches for her. Sure, she is famous, but she is still a person. We tend to dehumanize people for all sorts of reasons, one is for being in the limelight. I could not imagine for one second not having both my brothers in my life. That is why I cherish them the way I do. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t give do or say for them. They love me unconditionally and are two of my best friends. Whenever I am feeling down or ungrateful I often think of them. Both my brothers were almost killed in violent ways. One, a terrible car crash in which the coroner was called out because there was no way anyone thought there was a survivor. There was. My other brother was attacked by some nut, stabbed several times and left for dead. But for the grace of God I didn’t have to feel what Mrs. Wright may be feeling. I didn’t have to pick out pictures for an obituary, sit and act dignified in a church when all I would want to do is scream and yell and ask God why? I still have my brothers. I am sure Mrs. Wright loved her brothers with all her heart. She was with them a lot and mentioned them all the time. Just from what I have seen they had a genuine loving sibling relationship. Perfect? Probably not. No one is, but the bible says in 1 John 4:20, If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. Regardless of what I have done or what my brothers have done I know they still love me and I love them.  Our siblings may do things you don’t approve of and vice versa, but we still have to love each other. I knew from an early age not to judge my brothers for all their actions as they didn’t judge me for mine and I can be a bit of a handful sometimes. We loved each other and we stuck together. Yeah we had little fights like brothers and sisters do, maybe over the remote or who at the last cookie, but anytime there was on tiny inkling of a major divide our parents and/or the other sibling nipped that in the bud! I am so grateful for how my parents made us stick together. It helped us grow into the siblings we are today. We treat each other with respect, kindness and honor. I tell my “bubbies” often how much I love them and I show them even the more. They have always gone above and beyond for me and still do. I know they love me and will always protect me. I never want to take for granted that they will always be around. There will never be a divide among us as I am my brothers keeper.