On the first of the month, don’t sit down to make your budget for just this month. Budget two or three months ahead to help you catch birthdays, irregular expenses, or even irregular income. By staying a few months ahead, you can anticipate what your financial situation will look like and whether you need to make any meaningful changes. Being prepared never hurts, especially when it comes to your finances.
Just don’t forget to review and update your plans each time you check in on your budget. You’ll need to make adjustments as that month grows closer, and that doesn’t mean you’ve failed at budgeting in advance. Even the most experienced financial wizards still have to adjust their own budgets from time to time.