BBP Real Life Budget | Tight Budget + Income + Budget Tips

It's time for another Real Life Budget. We asked my readers to submit their REAL information. Real spending, real debt, and real savings goals.
I am taking those real life numbers and showing you how I would organize and budget that information using my Budget By Paycheck® Method.
In this video, I will be showing the real numbers from a reader, Arley. Currently, Arley is spending more than she makes, and I will be going into detail about the changes I recommend.
➡️ HOW I TRACK MY SPENDING: bit.ly/3aIe89I
➡️ HOW TO USE A BUDGET CALENDAR: bit.ly/2IzF2Vj
➡️ FINDING YOUR WHY: bit.ly/3aJUryj
➡️ THE BUDGET MOM'S FINANCIAL FREEDOM STEPS: bit.ly/3cfJXsp
➡️ HOW TO GET STARTED WITH THE CASH ENVELOPE METHOD: bit.ly/2vQJaO5
➡️ HOW TO CREATE A PLAN OF ATTACK TO PAY OFF DEBT: bit.ly/2wDETxF
ABOUT ME
I'm the blogger behind www.thebudgetmom.com. I have a rambunctious 6-year-old son, live in Washington, and I'm passionate about helping people with money management and personal finance. Let me know what you like to learn more about! Leave me comments and suggestions on my video and let me know!
YOU CAN FIND ME AT:
📝 BLOG: www.thebudgetmom.com
📘 FACEBOOK: / thebudgetmom
📸 INSTAGRAM: / thebudgetmom
📌 PINTEREST: / thebudgetmom
GET STARTED
➡️Start Here: www.thebudgetmom.com/start-here/
➡️Free Course: courses.thebudgetmom.com/
➡️Free Resources: bit.ly/2PDmTHz
➡️GET 10% OFF my popular Budget-by-Paycheck Workbook - Coupon Code TBMKZbin bit.ly/2CR7U9n

[@melanieshipley3133]

I would love to see follow up videos on these featured followers lives! Where are they with their goals 6 months later?

[@melanierhine593]

This is a great idea - like a "where are they now" episode.

[@ayannafraleymoore5265]

Melanie Shipley ME TOO!

[@SADEONTHERUN]

Great idea!!

[@LaToyaPlansLife]

Would love to see that

[@kasarustica4005]

👌🏼

[@comegetthiscommentary]

I don't comment often but I love these!! I agree with the the person who suggested a "Where Are They Now" budget life update.

[@ms.hazeleyesrdgz113]

This was an awesome lower income budgeting video. A lot of ppl don’t make lots of money and I think watching those with larger incomes can be discouraging to them. They may feel like they need to make a lot of money to start budgeting and payoff debt or just may not see a way out. This was me a few years ago. But then I found you and started my journey. Thank you! More of these please!

[@jennifershaw9323]

I agree Ms. Hazeleyes Rdgz! I am doing so much better since I found The Budget Mom!!! Thank you Miko :)

[@luv2cook5]

PLEASE PLEASE do more video's like this..alot of people make around 1,100 or so twice a month..these videos help alot. 💕

[@Budgetforsuccess]

This was me very recently so I can totally relate. I just paid off all delinquent payday loans 2 months ago and my 2 collections last week. Also 6 credit cards paid off and an installment loan. Finishing the second installment loan this month and 6 credit cards left. Slowly but surely I’m making a dent in my debt. 😊 Love your channel and I’m happy you show multiple types of budgets.

[@pairakat]

That is amazing progress and inspires me even further!

[@gorvernall]

very interesting 😊

[@bruce5895]

Tip # for saving your money, start shopping at dollar stores, thirft stores, discount grocery stores and garage sales to put more back into your pockets.

[@ChrisRampersad]

I love seeing these real life budgets. Its all about choices and sometimes we don't always make the best one but then how to fix that, like paying the delinquent balances, chip away at a credit card at a time, and keep in mind the saving goals, even 43 feels nice when its been zero.

[@thatgirly823]

She could also move the budget for “Allowance” down to $15 for the time being if the “Roblox” is more important to her daughter than the additional $5.

[@NaomiEvolved]

I was saying the same thing

[@TonTreyMarc]

Absolutely! If her daughter wants it she needs to budget her allowance for it.

[@brigutierrez5249]

This real life budget is so nice to see. Its hard to visualize what I can do to budget when all I see is people making at least twice what I make or more paying off huge amounts of debt or even couples budgeting for families.

[@nancynewman6592]

I loved the 2 month layout in more than 2 colours, it was a 'moment' for me, of another level of organizing the bills :) Especially when you are feeling short !!

[@abigailsoto9600]

This boils down to living outside your means.... low income + luxury subscriptions and fancy items (phone upgrade, tablet, high car payment) = recipe for disaster. It’s okay to not being able to afford iPhone or Iwatch, AirPods, iPads...none of these are worth going into debt and stressing over (take it from someone who has already been through the process of changing my financial outlook, there is light at the end of the tunnel!)

[@TMcocoa]

My car payment is high and I’m low income. I didn’t have really any credit and my previous car went out with no warning. Sometimes it can’t be avoided. I would’ve been happy with a 3,000 car

[@sandyseibelhager7131]

Agree. That car payment, beauty budget, wax subscription and credit cards are killing her. If the boyfriend moves out and she has to pay ALL the groceries etc she will be in even more trouble.

[@deniselittle5558]

@@TMcocoa That is what is great about learning what Miko has to teach us. Next time you will have a choice if you plan for it in your budget.

[@pollydolly9723]

I know that as soon as one debt is gone, a small emergency fund started, that any 'eliminates' from the budget will seem worth it! I wish this reader well, and am confident that she can do it with the realistic budget you have set for her.

[@lynncyclopedia22]

Thanks for the detailed breakdown! I can't believe the interest rate on her car payment. SMH sometimes it really does seem like the system is designed for some people to fail. Good for you for helping people make sense of this!

[@rhiannawashington8682]

What you said about getting really excited for something is hard when you have something delinquent!! Struggling with that right now.

[@chelseawhaling1205]

That Verizon bill is crazy high!

[@lnel5829]

Please let the reader know that she can negotiate her charged off debt. She can pay .25 cents on the dollar for those. I love there real life budgets, Miko. They are REAL!! We all struggle and these allow us to see how easy it is to manage our finances.

[@Lovelyone1]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@melanierhine593]

25 to 30 percent for those delinquent debts is very realistic. She can probably take care of all 3 delinquencies for the $315.

[@strangergranger10]

Hello, I have a request please make a video with an actual breakdown of monthly budgeting with only $1,300 budget. This is mostly a salary of a minimum wager. Thank you very much.

[@katieterakami7131]

I love this video. You should make more videos like this in this same situation.and ones for investing.

[@walkingexercise5375]

Thanks for this Real Life Budget series! Would love more videos like this because most budget KZbinrs are couples, so it is nice to see single budgets!

[@gorvernall]

Great perspective budget😊

[@emelymoreno5253]

I’m so blessed to finally follow someone that will help me with knowledge to become a better and financially stable mom! 💕

[@Marb6]

Thoroughly enjoy these videos. Thanks Miko !

[@nicolesutton5370]

Love all of these videos SO much! And love you! ✨

[@mrs.mcginnis2987]

This was great and very helpful. Thanks to Arly for opening up her budget to us also.

[@jodystrnad]

Such a good video! I found too that when you start it is a bit rough but if you stick with it it does get easier! Thanks, Miko for spotlighting this real-life budget!

[@helennelson1369]

Thank you for this video. This is exactly what I needed.

[@gigilopez5162]

This video really got my attention. Loved it Miko! 🙌🏼💯

[@HolisticMoney]

It is so great to see you actively helping your community on such a personal level! While there are a lot of really great finance tips out there, these videos are a prime example of why there is no "one size fits all" for someone's financial situation. Keep up the amazing work!

[@Jaaked]

This is therapeutic somehow! So glad I found you a few years ago! God bless you

[@lifeinthemo2372]

OMG LOVE love the video. TY for your step by step. I sooo need to get on top of this.

[@sjlmorgan]

This is an excellent concept video. I 💖 that you are using real life information. I have been putting off creating my own but this is eye opening and I plan on working on my own for real today. I needed to see this today. Thank you for doing it this way!

[@M2a3i]

Thank you this is very helpful to see an actual budget.

[@j_bubblez279]

These are so helpful as someone who is just starting out learning about budgeting and how to fix budget issues

[@Sew_Country]

Thanks for another great video! These are so motivating and help keep me on track with my own journey!

[@PlaninProgress]

I love this series - it’s so interesting to see your method work for so many people and situations.

[@simplyrissa1]

I love watching these videos!! I like being able to see how other people's budgets are able to be done and what their budgets look like. I have learned a lot with these videos and there are plenty of things that I could take away from these

[@michellehoang576]

Thank you for the informative video. Since watching your videos, I have been able to budget based on reprioritizing my expenses, savings and paying off debt.

[@adriennescrazylife188]

Videos always make my day!!! 😍

[@brendaabell]

Thanks for the reminder that a paycheck doesn’t have to pay the bills that are due around the same date. This might be what I needed to make my budgets work better :)

[@KnitMomof3]

This is very helpful. I wonder why you didn't recommend she cancel the cat litter subscription since you can buy cat litter at Target or Walmart for $20/month or less?

[@teresadugan7380]

Same question I had.

[@suchafnldy2]

Maybe she’s like me and ends up buying a bunch of stuff she doesn’t need when she goes to a store. I have impulse control issues obviously 😂

[@Authenticallyapril_]

It’s special cat litter. You can’t buy it in store.

[@CalliopeFlowerFarm]

Came here to say this! It would be way better to cancel Pretty Litter and keep another entertainment for her or her daughter.

[@HowDebbieSaves]

Great job! I always enjoy your videos.

[@gingermacphee7805]

I would go to straight talk with the phone i pay 30 a month and my phone does everything the apple phones do

[@sandyseibelhager7131]

I have Straight Talk and love it. I use it with an old iPhone.

[@honeyimhome9341]

A motivating video and looking at your nails make my day! thank you dear 😍

[@marymeyer6578]

Great video. I agree with so many others. Please do follow up on this budget. The income is very relatable as well as the expenses. So enjoy watching your videos. Learned so much. Helped me so much.

[@Sunnyday069]

This is sooo helpful!! I just started this week writing it all out, got my envelopes! this really changed my perspective and opened my eyes! Thank you thank you!

[@gorvernall]

I’ve been using her advice for two weeks very interesting results on my part 😊

[@lynnpatrick4023]

This was so helpful! Thank you!

[@Dagmarosk]

Hi I'm new here and I just bought your 2020 monthly saving games and I'm going to buy your work book when it's available. Your videos have helped my realize that I have no idea where my money goes. I started my first budget and it's flawed but I started and I'm going to keep at it. Thank you from Iceland.

[@barbarahatfield8027]

Love it you are so good thanks so so. I will help my daughter with her budget . I said your method, she said mom I m interesting so we start this week

[@christinebodge7568]

Omg so needed this!!!

[@latashahunt1413]

This is AMAZING. How does one submit their budget for your review?

[@debbieescobar2203]

I love your Real Life budget 👏🏻👏🏻 keep it up 👍🏻👍🏻

[@mmaitin992]

Yaaaaas!! Love this video!! Can we get more info/suggestions on how to link which paychecks to which bills? I hope this question makes sense 😬

[@cheriewilliams2010]

I love this. More! More!! Light bulbs going off in my head. But I will say my hubby and I are going off a 3200 every 2 weeks. I am trying to pay off debt but have a lot more to go.

[@marianamuller9279]

Amazing!! Just amazing!! 💜💜👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 greetings from Uruguay 🇺🇾

[@annabrown7060]

She can call the creditors for delinquent debts and settle with them for less than the amount listed. Get it in writing and then settle for less to knock those out faster

[@TanyaScorpio]

Totally agree and tell them this is what i have cause her debt is already impossible once they go way. She needs a different car cause she cannot afford that car.

[@mrsdeannacoleman]

Thank you So much for this :) i love watching your videos!

[@lucyben9173]

go invest with the company that she always talk about you will make more profits

[@candy2325]

Such a great video! I totally understand about having too many luxuries in budgeting and to cut back. I woke up this morning completely feeling nauseated about my $222.27 gym training session I’ve been doing and going to cancel it. I rather workout at home instead of paying that shit every three weeks. It’s absolutely draining!

[@deniselittle5558]

It's amazing how you can take a persons numbers even when they are so over extended as this person is and almost magically find money for them to start saving and paying down debt. I wish I'd learned this stuff years ago, but at least I'm learning now and putting it into practice. My finances look so different than the last 30 years.

[@renaygoulding4104]

Thank you for the video, very useful.

[@mariacastillo3090]

You're quite right about not feeling motivation to move on with delinquent accounts, especially.

[@josierocco9326]

You could have been doing my budget. You just gave me so much HOPE! Thank you!!

[@lucyben9173]

go invest with the company that she always talk about you will make more profits

[@TanyaScorpio]

Excellent video.. you should do these often..

[@debrateter6098]

Another awesome & helpful video - Seriously LOL when kitty came to sit in on your video, like I’m here mom, let’s do this! 🤣😂

[@akinea101]

I love these videos. So interesting

[@christinaromero5944]

These videos are so helpful thank you

[@lucyben9173]

go invest with the company that she always talk about you will make more profits

[@jenniferconstant875]

Please try a student friendly budget for those of us trying to save while having a social life and having school expenses with a lower paying job!

[@Honesttalks287]

Hello, I really think this is very nice of you to do this for free,it really shows folks how to get a hand of this. Oh the bloopers at the end with the animals were so funny. Lol. God bless you young lady. 👍🏻😀

[@gorvernall]

Thank you 😊

[@jenniferwang3489]

This makes so much sense. I am using my last paycheck of the month as my 1st check of the next month, because I have lot of bills the first week fo the month, and I need things to visually make sense. I was out of work for a while this year and found the perfect job that covers my bills, but not much else. After I get some debts paid off at the beginning of October, I will have extra $ that we will put towards our credit card debt.

[@lucyben9173]

go invest with the company that she always talk about you will make more profits

[@angelasnodgrass6621]

Great ideas. Great video.

[@Birdmom1823]

💜💙 love your videos so much 💜💙

[@MelissaGGGG]

This video was so reassuring. Summarizing her situation in the beginning had me feeling nervous and hopeless for her and then you turned it around and made everything seem so easy and possible. Great content!

[@mariesaver7184]

This video has got awesome content.

[@tifflovesmetal]

I am also in the low income bracket but receive disability payments once a month. Would love to see this topic covered.

[@lenabellamy1262]

Wondering when the new version of the budgeting workbook will come out. I’m very interested in getting one. Thanks for all of the needed information in your videos.

[@investorista695]

Everything definitely needs to be organized.

[@donnabuckner2689]

It has to make a big difference to have someone take an objective look and give constructive feed back. I'm with Melanie Shipley, I'd like to see you follow up videos.

[@holmest37]

Awesome video!

[@jonnaborosky8836]

Excellent!

[@soniaa.4675]

I would love to see one with both biweekly and weekly pay. I get paid biweekly but my husband gets paid weekly and so I’ve tried to budget but it’s a little hard because I’ll pay the big bills that fall on my payday and he’ll pay the random small bills and I’ll assume we’ll have some extra money and when the time comes it doesn’t work out I’ve been watching your videos idk if you already posted one like that if you haven’t pleaseee make one ☺️☺️

[@dim9458]

Thanks 👍👍👍

[@mksugerman1500]

This video made me feel really anxious because I felt this woman’s desperation. She’s living so close to the edge and in these days of Covid so many of us are so close to being her. I am an essential worker but my husband is not. We have savings but 3 months goes by so fast and it’s not over yet. Who else is out there in the same position?

[@mariagutierrez7242]

Love these kind of videos!! Please keep them coming. Can you please let me know how I can send you my numbers and see if you can recommend what I can do. Thanks again

[@kristinarichardson7415]

How do I get my budget reviewed and suggestions from Miko?

[@SADEONTHERUN]

I’d like to know how she should save for her car payments once she depletes that savings account. I have a car savings account too, but I budget to add to it every month.

[@APinkeClothlife]

Me too!!🙋🏽‍♀️

[@jttdx2669]

This was a great video!! Could you try to do a video of a single person or even a college student?

[@SliceofLiz]

Hey I make videos showing you how to budget for one :) just released my August budget video that would help in your position

[@phunt1769]

This is wonderful. I wish your readers would stop critiquing others choice. Just give recommendation in a friendly way. We don't know the whole story and her choices.

[@ayishaferreira1531]

I love to watch your videos because they motivates me.however i am stuck and i think i need your help doing my budget.

[@TheTytiaunna]

Amazing

[@lushisong50]

Hi Kumiko, I have been watching your videos for a while and I found all the advices from you are super helpful! I was wondering how I can submit my real life financial story to you? Is there a certain way I can do this? Please advise since I have been struggling with my situation for a long time... thank you!!!

[@almondghost1618]

Do not pay delinquent debt unless they are willing to delete it from your credit report. Draft a verification letter first, certify mail it in. If no reply within 30 days you can get it deleted from your report. Never ever pay unless you go thru all the verification process first and then they are willing to delete it. Trust me on this

[@sandy1600]

Miko thank you for always showing us real life budgets. How can I contact you to know if I can submit my budget to you to see what recommendations you make? And feature on KZbin?

[@paulashealthyliving]

I love your videos. My husband just retired and I'm considering doing so next year. I use this same method for our budget.(We have just stopped savings as we will be dipping into them next year) We have kept track of income and expenses for over 30 years. When we started, we had student loans that were mind boggling and we were getting further into debt each month as my husband was still in university. We've been able to purchase a house and help our children through university. We even taken our kids, and partners, on vacations, and took my mother to Greece. All with cash! If I can ask a personal question: Is that your kitchen? It's stunning.

[@strangergranger10]

Please do some sample of budgeting $1,300 in a monthly basis because most people live in a minimum payment. I want to know an ideal way of living with a tight budget. This is going to apply for an individual to start or trying on living independently. Thank you!

[@Roosterhillhomestead]

Can you add this fixed income sheet to your Budget by paycheck workbook? This would really help me and I think others.

[@lauriefowles7085]

I would also get rid of the Litter Membership & buy the litter instead as you go. It can be cheaper. Plus the Verizon is expensive, esp if the cable is seperate.

[@t.kellee3462]

Please do more videos like this please

[@tamarahsaucedo9454]

Very much intrested in how to get a real life budget made.

[@lucyben9173]

go invest with the company that she always talk about you will make more profits

[@nomegusta1000]

How do we submit our budget to see if you'd go through it? I could use some help and getting it broken down would be super helpful !