Budgeting for Humans

Contents

1. Before you begin3
2. 1The 3-bucket budget4
3. 2Irregular income playbook14
4. 3Emergency fund in 90 days24
5. 4Monthly money check-in template34

2

Before you begin

A budget is not a punishment. It is a plan for your money so it stops surprising you.

This guide uses three buckets instead of forty categories, and it is built for real, uneven months.

3

Chapter 1

Three buckets

Needs, wants and future. That's it. Roughly half your income goes to needs, a third to wants and the rest to your future self.

Start with your real numbers, not ideal ones. A budget that matches your life is the one you will actually use.

4

Your turn

Your starting numbers

• Monthly income after tax
• Rent, food, bills: your needs
• Everything else you spend
• What is left, even if it's small

5

Chapter 2

Irregular income playbook

Once the first step is in place, the next one builds on it. A calm, shame-free way to manage your money.

Each chapter ends with a short exercise, so you finish the page with something done, not just something read.

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