It’s the end of a month again, so we’re here to take a look at the state of our finances. I like to go through a list of end of the month budget questions at the end of every month to see if there is anything I need to—or want to—change as we move into a new month.
If you don’t have a budget, then you probably will want to start there. See my post on how to start a budget!
If you do have a budget, then here are some things to think about as March comes to a close. Consider this post your sign to do a March budget recap and help you get some perspective so you can stay on track for the rest of the year.
End of the Month Budget Questions | March Budget Recap
Did you actually track your spending?
I hope that if you’ve been with us since January, you have already figured out a method to track your spending. But even I go through weeks where I’m not really paying that much attention and have to sit down and spend some time getting everything balanced out. If you haven’t been tracking your spending, what barriers are keeping you from doing that? Do you need to change your method by using a different app, making a spreadsheet, or switching to pencil and paper?
How much did you spend last month?
If you did track your spending, great job! Now you can zoom out and look at your overall spending. You can also look at individual categories and see what your spending was. I ended up spending more in March on a family birthday than I intended to, but I was able to move some money from another category to make up for it.
Will you be planning to spend more or less on a certain category in the coming month?
For me, next month looks like it will be about the same, except I don’t need to buy dog food for several months because I got a great deal on a bulk order of dog food.
Are there any holidays or events coming up that will cause you to spend more?
If it’s substantial, consider creating a new budget category for next year for that. For us, that’s spring break. We aren’t going on a big trip, but we may do a few fun outings and go out to eat more than usual, so I like to have money set aside for that.
By the end of March, I hope you’re also thinking about the summer. Whether you are single or married, whether you have kids or not, the summer usually means some kind of change in spending. It might mean that as a teacher, you don’t get a paycheck. Or maybe you don’t have to pay for childcare in the summer. For most of us, we have some kind of trip planned. Now is the time to consider if there’s anything you can do to prepare for that.
Are there any recurring expenses that won’t happen this month?
Maybe your child’s daycare gives you a cost break over the holidays, or maybe you decide to pause a few subscriptions.
Are there new sinking funds that have come to your attention?
Budgets are dynamic—they should always be available to change. Sometimes more recurring expenses come up that you forgot about. This is especially true if you’re new to budgeting.
Do an inventory check—how are you on groceries, personal care items, household items?
This doesn’t have to be complicated, but it’s good to know what things you might be running low on as well as things you have plenty of so that in the coming month you’re not tempted to overbuy or run out. You can keep an eye on sales and stock up.
Are there any new categories you need to add to your budget?
Maybe you decided to sign up for Hulu to watch a show you’ve been wanting to see. Even if it’s only a few dollars a month, those little costs add up.
How are you doing on your financial goals?
If you set goals at the beginning of the year, this is a good time to see how your progress is going. If you’re new to budgeting, check out how to set yearly goals.
Is there any financial win you can celebrate?
Maybe you paid off a small debt or met a financial goal you set last year. It’s always good to celebrate wins to give you motivation to keep pressing on!