Budgeting isn't a one-size-fits-all activity. You can pick from a wide variety of budgeting strategies, depending on your personality, interests and the way that you like to interact with numbers.
Below are four budgeting styles, ranked from most-detail-oriented to least-detail-oriented. Pick the one that suits you!
1. The Many-Category Budget
Do you love detailed, line-itemized lists? If so, the traditional budget, which features more than a dozen categories, is for you. More »
2. The 5-Category Budget
You might want to get a detailed idea of how your spending breaks down into "buckets" -- without getting too mired in the weeds. If so, try the 5-category spending plan. More »
3. The 3-Category Budget
Don't feel like dividing your spending into lots of categories? Try the basic 50/30/20 budget, a simple three-category financial plan. More »
4. The 2-Category Budget
If you don't enjoy detailed budgets -- and you'd prefer a simple, big-picture overview of your finances -- the 80/20 budget, a basic two-category budget, is the easiest possible route you can take. More »
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