How I Budget for a New Month 💸 budget breakdown, sinking funds, financial goals etc

✨ Subscribe: bit.ly/2VrRRcb
NEO financial referral: neo.cc/refer/Y2L5S3H8
(new) budget spreadsheet: bit.ly/3Wm46Gq
(old) budget spreadsheet: etsy.me/3vmz0Qt
✨ WHERE TO FIND ME
IG: / cartersully
TikTok: / cartersullivan13
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✨ SUBSCRIBER COUNT- 99, 300
✨ DISCLAIMER
My views are not those of my employer. All video clips were filmed before work, during designated breaks, or after work.
✨ DISCLAIMER
This video is not sponsored.

[@denisefulgencio6944]

I just started the video but I want to say I’m so happy your budgeting videos will be back again! They are the reason I subscribed and I did feel out of touch with your content for a bit. You just explain this so well and in such a positive light. I could watch them all the time even if they are the same thing over and over haha. So happy and grateful thank you!

[@CarterSullivan]

This is so kind!! I have defintely struggled alot with finance content and my relationship with it because it's the videos of mine that do the best/bring new people to my channel but it's not who I am if that makes sense. Budgetting/finance is just a part of me!!

[@amyelizabeth4058]

I was thinking another reason I really love these videos is because I love women talking about finances -- in the past it's so male dominated and I love the girlies being transparent & real about how we handle our finances! You honestly inspired me to get over my money fears and start budgeting on spreadsheets like this. It's helped me soo much this year

[@CarterSullivan]

Amy this is so sweet!!!!! 🥹🫶🏻

[@ashleys89]

I can't lie, I fell off my own budget when you stopped 😅 I didn't mean to, it just kind of happened. I always sat down and did mine while watching yours

[@shandisfancher8766]

thats such a good review of how impactful and inspiring these videos are 🥰

[@deniseprichett2619]

I found you because of other KZbin ladies who budget like Zoe Pritchard and Personal Finance with Leila! I also was pleasantly surprised with the book content too and the home decor and thrifting. I love chatty videos!!!❤

[@CarterSullivan]

This makes me so happy to hear! Sometimes it can be hard when a certain niche of your videos goes viral, for me It was personal finance because then some people just expect those types of videos but I feel like I'm such a multi facetted person, so it really makes me happy when people came for one kind of content but stuck around for the rest 🥹🫶🏻

[@WithSandra]

i love when my fave youtubers also watch each other! :) also, you're so close to 100k, early congratz carter!! ❤

[@CarterSullivan]

Yay! Thank you!

[@traceythompson7895]

You motivate me to be mindful w my money. Putting yourself out there is brave. I appreciate you and this channel. 😊

[@ryanrowe1975]

Congratulations Carter!

[@amyelizabeth4058]

This is so helpful, thank you Carter!

[@naomimiranda6755]

Thank you for sharing your videos! Preach it girl! 🥰

[@jodybogoslavski2569]

You are amazing. Thank you for sharing these and keep going!

[@amycolucci6769]

Thank god my fav type of videos!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ana.morburkle]

You're such an inspiration!! Thank you thank you! and I'd love an updated one for how you organize finances. Sending you so much love

[@CarterSullivan]

Thank you! Will do- not much has changed in terms of my bank accounts, investments, credit cards etc but I will work on updating it!

[@williamcruz0323]

After saw your first fincance video MY life change foreal ,you make the video so. Easy and clear that wicht I love it , thank you for this time you taking to share your experience with us 👏🏻👏🏻

[@shelbiem307]

Yayy! I’ve been waiting for the return of these videos!

[@CarterSullivan]

It makes me so happy to see how much y'all enjoy them! I get so in my head about the budget content

[@shelbiem307]

⁠@@CarterSullivanplease don’t feel boring or repetitive. I put these on to have company while working or cooking.

[@mansoor3159]

It's always a good day when Carter post's a new vlog🤗🤗

[@CarterSullivan]

You're the best!

[@Megan_duh]

Love these kinds of videos! Glad that you're feeling excited to do this kind of content again. I like doing 6 months of expenses for the emergency fund! It felt manageable to accumulate, and I feel comfortable that it would be enough time to find a new job if needed

[@CarterSullivan]

Yeah, I'm defintely just trying to figure out if I wanna do a set money amount (10k for example) or a certain amount of months of expenses! I feel like six months seems to be a good amount!

[@jarie9689]

love these, Carter! Zoe’s no spend challenges are so fun and inspiring. would love to see one from you! 💛

[@CarterSullivan]

Honestly I pretty much already do no spend weeks since I work from home/don't leave the house most days of the week. I typically only end up spending 2 days a week (Friday night takeout, Saturday morning coffee) so I don't feel the need to do a complete no spend challenge right now or cut those 2 re-occuring expenses out! I defintely think they can be a fun way to challenge yourself if you feel as though you need the challenge or want to see if you can limit your spending but I'd say Mon-Fri I don't spend any money normally so I'm quite happy with that!

[@jarie9689]

@@CarterSullivan makes so much sense. working from home during the week definitely limits the temptation to spend!

[@samanthashares]

I found you from your budget videos so I’m glad they are back!

[@CarterSullivan]

Yay! Thank you!

[@kbehr2438]

Thank you for this video! I just started getting back into my finances as well, so this was perfect timing! You always make me feel so supported whenever I do my own finances.

[@CarterSullivan]

This is truly such a kind comment! I'm so glad that you feel supported when you do your finances and just hope that these videos feel like budgeting with a friend

[@unsolicitedscreenrot]

This is so helpful 🥰 thanks for being real, I’m trying to create a more realistic money routine right now

[@CarterSullivan]

You got this!

[@lee-13]

I love and missed your personal finance videos. ❤

[@CarterSullivan]

More to come! 🥰🫶🏻

[@pearlhbee]

I was just thinking about you earlier today forgot to search your channel, just opened my yt tab again and here you are on my homepage!😊

[@karissatooley8392]

Loved this video! It is so inspiring and encourages me on my budgeting journey!

[@CarterSullivan]

So glad you enjoyed!! 😊

[@amanda2241996]

I love these videos. I bought the budget sheet you use after watching your videos ❤

[@CarterSullivan]

Yay! Thank you!

[@lilmizsingergal]

i’m a new grad with a new job and so this was perfect thank you 💕

[@CarterSullivan]

Glad you enjoyed!!

[@harperrae576]

Since becoming a homeowner I’ve tried to build up my emergency fund more in case something unexpected happens. Since home things are so expensive…(ex: furnace or water heater issues). So I’m currently at $17,000 but feel like I want to make it closer to $20,000. I will say I have a hard time understanding how much is too much cash to have on hand vs putting that money into investment funds. Love that your budgeting videos are back :)

[@CarterSullivan]

Those are my thoughts exactly too now that we have an older home!

[@cozylorae]

New here! But I'm really glad that you shared about your childhood trauma a little bit and how that can be linked to shopping addictions and overspending. It feels like people still don't understand that shopping addictions aren't just about being careless with money but like food addictions, are usually deeply rooted in some kind of trauma or that desire to fulfill a hole you can never fill so you try to fill it with things. It's something I wish more financial gurus or KZbinrs would talk about.

[@CarterSullivan]

I think its SO important to talk about!

[@gellirollz]

Your channel popped up and I agree I have been slacking on monitoring what I spend and just over all budgets

[@CarterSullivan]

Hi, welcome!!

[@meganmarievd]

I am so excited, I start my first job tomorrow getting off of disability. Yout videos help me a lot.

[@CarterSullivan]

So happy for you!!

[@paisleyhunter]

Were you scared to get off disability? What was the catalyst? My disability in 836$ a month. I know I could make more by working but im so scared to make that leap.

[@sarahtrickett8178]

which books do you recommend reading for getting started?

[@alysonlindley]

Totally agree with removing lines from your budget if you don’t want or need to track them. For years I had so many categories because that’s what all the budget girlies had. Some categories were empty 90% of the time. Or I could not care less about my spending for them. Now I have simplified and track useful things. It’s a game changer.

[@CarterSullivan]

Yep! I feel like we kind of all go through that phase of comparing with the other budget girls are doing. I think at one point I had about 15 steps to my money routine and never wanted to do it because it was so complicated. That's when I realized that finances something that you gotta stay in your own lane about and keep it so simple!!

[@Ilovetosmile2023]

I am scrolling through on my spending while watching the video and I am so surprise that I spent too much on my wants than my needs 2,600 and more of just fast food and coffee. Thank you for this video and I appreciate that you keep the spreadsheet available to see throughout the entire video ‘coz I was able to follow. To more success in your channel! Very helpful ❤

[@CarterSullivan]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@APinkeClothlife]

Thank you for making this video❤

[@CarterSullivan]

You're welcome 😊

[@Sitasbudgetingjourney]

New subscriber, so happy to have found your channel ❤

[@CarterSullivan]

Welcome!!🥰

[@SarahSchneider2]

You seem like you balance your finances so well. I’m trying to save but I also like to spend at times. I’m pretty decent about it though like I don’t spend crazy but do buy more than I need a few times a month

[@CarterSullivan]

NO one is perfect and it really is just about finding a balance of saving/spending!

[@MishraMonique]

Watching this while I work and I was looking for a video from Zoe to put in the que after and then you mentioned her! Lol. Love both of your content especially as a Canadian!

[@CarterSullivan]

Love that! 🥰

[@ShayJournii]

What is Zoey KZbin?

[@CarterSullivan]

@@ShayJournii Zoe Pritchard!

[@imjusme1015]

I really like the budget link you provided. It's already helping me get back on track. This may be a silly question, but would you be willing to do a more in-depth video of how you use how you use some of the other spreadsheets?

[@CarterSullivan]

The instructions/setup that the owner of the spreadsheet provides are super helpful with this! I don't share any of my investment/savings details & we don't have any current debt to pay off so I probably wouldn't personally show the other spreadsheets!

[@SierrasJourney]

i had just sat down with a cappuccino i was pumped up when you said we are just chatting at a coffee shop i was ready lol

[@shellyobrien1410]

I put 3 months minimum in my EF, but I am aiming to up it to 4-6 months now that my husband and I are going through fertility costs.

[@williamwarren9448]

Amen to not knowing where your money went !!! Amen to impulse spending ( no longer goes to target ) now completely debt free including a 2024 car and house !!! Thank you budgeting content on you tube ! Glenda

[@CarterSullivan]

Love that for you!

[@SOLTANA17]

That's so funny. Rn you and Zoe are the only ones I'm watching!

[@CarterSullivan]

Aw I love that!! Love Zoe 🥹🫶🏻

[@BeaVaneX]

Hey!! Still in the middle of the video watching but I just wanted to say you look GREAT!!!

[@CarterSullivan]

Oh thank you! 🥹

[@christinemitchell6210]

Carter your videos are comfort hangout videos for me. For my Emergency Fund I found that splitting out different situations more helpful and lowers my stress levels knowing all things are covered. Mostly this was inspired by Gen-Z Finance here on KZbin. A little bit about our life: live in California, husband makes 3 times more than I, we have a young son, we rent our home, I recently had a hip replacement at a very young age, we have elderly parents, we are also saving for a future home purchase. *Loss of Income 3 months currently (saved; would love this to be 6 months in the future), *Life and Death $20,000 (currently working on slowly; covers family out of pocket max for health insurance or a funeral) *Home Emergency $15,000 (not yet saved because we don't currently own a home) *Rainy Day Fund $5,000 (saved; covers a random terrible moment in life: traffic ticket, tv or vacuum replacement, hotel stay if there is a major home emergency). Thank you for sharing your life with us!!!

[@alannamillar]

Can you do an entire video about the budget spreadsheet you use I just bought it and would love to see how you would fill it out starting from scratch! Thanks for the inspiration :)

[@CarterSullivan]

I would definitely recommend reaching out to the seller on Etsy since it's not my budget spreadsheet! I honestly just followed the instructions on the budget spreadsheet and the set up page! Not too sure if I can create a video on how to set it up since I didn't create the spreadsheet :)

[@LuxRLD]

For me 10k is comfortable for an emergency fund. That would last me about four and a half months. I live alone and pay 1800 for mortgage Unfortunately car inflation is so real in the states. I had to switch insurance policies but it did save me $30 a month so it was worth it imo

[@BrielleJuliet]

Hiii! Do you have a link for your monitor and the little stand thing it’s on? Such a cute setup!!

[@CarterSullivan]

It's an iMac! And tbh I have no idea where the little stand is from- maybe Amazon but had it for awhile 😊

[@BrielleJuliet]

@@CarterSullivan thank you!!

[@willowandaida]

I'm also a Canadian and I use Neo for my Emergency Fund savings. It has 4% interest.

[@CarterSullivan]

Nice!! I use Neo for all of my sinking funds and have my emergency fund through Wealthsimple😊

[@olgaperez4267]

Do you ever match your balance on the excel spreadsheet with ur checkbook balance?

[@CarterSullivan]

Not anymore no! That's just because I round up a lot of my purchases to the nearest dollar when I'm tracking them and I don't track everything down to the cent anymore! Definitely just depends on where you are in your financial journey. I just don't feel the need to do that anymore 😊

[@notyouraveragemama9238]

Where can I get this excel sheet? SO PRETTY

[@CarterSullivan]

Its linked right in the video descrption!

[@jeslay]

So wild! It’s like you read my mind!! The other day I tried to find your budgeting videos on your channel but am happy you did an updated one!! My question is when you say “corporate job” are you referring to health care job? Or an actual corporate job? My degree is in IT and I’d love to switch the health care if possible.

[@CarterSullivan]

I work in corporate health care! I was on the patient facing side for a few years and then switched over to the corporate 9 to 5 side at my hospital😊

[@jeslay]

Oohhh nice! I was looking into patient work. I’d like to do a part time job as well so I can focus on my businesses, any advice for that? Do you run like the business side of healthcare or are a patient advocate? Obviously be as vague as you need to be! I respect your privacy I’m just curious lol

[@CarterSullivan]

@@jeslay I do HR & event coordination for a department in the hospital!

[@jeslay]

@@CarterSullivan you helped so much thank you so much!!!

[@Shabudgets]

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it that’s right lol hubby and I are also ones who don’t have combined income. Lol you are the first person I’ve heard say the same. ❤ great video

[@CarterSullivan]

Exactly!!

[@shandisfancher8766]

Can you talk about what sinking funds are and how you use them/set them up? I know this is a basic question but I’m not familiar with them. Or maybe recommend a resource that explains it well?

[@CarterSullivan]

Sinking funds are not really talked about a lot so honestly great question! They're basically just future expenses that you're putting money aside for. It's definitely one of those things that personal preference. Some people can have just like one savings account that they pull money from one expenses come up however, I'm a very visual person and I need things and like different savings buckets, so sinking funds work really well for me! Everyone can use sinking funds for different purposes, but it's basically just allocating money monthly for big expenses - maybe you're setting aside $100 a month for a trip, paying your car insurance, car repairs etc. I view it as saving for specific items where I can put small amounts aside monthly. So instead of getting hit with a $700 vet bill when Stella goes to get her vaccines yearly, I put aside $50/month that way when the time comes for her to get her yearly shots I already have the money saved and I don't have to think twice about it! Hopefully that kind of helps! I know some people also use it for like subscriptions if they pay for a subscription yearly and not monthly!

[@shandisfancher8766]

@@CarterSullivan okay yes this makes really good sense, I’ve thought about doing this but didn’t know there was a term for it. The main thing I’m wondering about is the logistics - like is this all in one savings account in your bank? Or are sinking funds set up through the bank and separate entities, like individual savings accounts?

[@CarterSullivan]

@@shandisfancher8766 it really depends what you want to do! Some people just have one sinking fund account and track it on a spreadsheet to know how much they have in each category or some like me choose to have individual different savings accounts. Lots of banks in the US and Canada allow you to have "savings buckets" within an account!

[@amyworley6221]

@@CarterSullivani have never seen an option for different “saving buckets” within one account! i really want to do sinking funds but this has always stopped me!

[@CarterSullivan]

@@amyworley6221 I think it's more of a thing in the US cause I seen a lot of finance creators in the states talk about it however, Neo, if you're in Canada does make it easy to open up these mini savings account with 4% interest!

[@kellylee_p9076]

Yasss!!! Love Zoe!

[@CarterSullivan]

FUN FACT- matt and zoe went to high school together hahaha small world

[@hollygriglio5722]

We have 5 months of expenses in our emergency fund!

[@aliyyahj]

I am so annoyed that Netflix is cancelling the basic plan! I went down to the with ads option because we don't use Netflix enough to get the 16.99 option

[@CarterSullivan]

SAME! I was told we'd be grandfathered in since we've been customers for years and then they turned around and said we weren't lol

[@hay5441]

I have seven months emergency fund. Put a lot of extra money into sinking funds if I don’t allocate that, will spend through it. 💵. Unfortunately a huge portion will go to property taxes 😢

[@CarterSullivan]

Yeah, we have a sinking fund set up for property taxes which is been really helpful to so we don't keep dipping into our savings every year!

[@oliviaeckard665]

Emergency fund has 6 months of expenses if my husband and I would both lose our jobs to cover rent, utilities, and groceries. Thank you for sharing your finances and being open 😊

[@laurenmw9629]

In BC people can get birth control prescriptions at the pharmacy directly and for free!

[@CarterSullivan]

Wow that's awesome!

[@alexismassenburg7514]

You put $50 in pet instead of pet insurance? Just wondering because I was thinking of doing something like this

[@CarterSullivan]

Correct. We have a pet sinking fund for our dogs instead of pet insurance. Pet insurance here in Canada, specifically Ontario quoted us upwards of $400-$500/month for 2 dogs. Now that our second dog seems to be the vet frequenter we may consider insuring them both but we haven't found a plan we love yet so we're still shopping around! I'm definitely not against it but we haven't found a good affordable plan for both dogs yet so for now we just put away money monthly for them!

[@alexismassenburg7514]

@@CarterSullivan yes, it wouldn’t be as much in America, probably $50 a month, but they make you jump through hoops to get reimbursed so the money is still coming out of my pocket up front. I was thinking of saving enough for routine check ups and then having a pet emergency fund. I appreciate your video!!

[@simplyboppingK]

HOW did you cancel hello fresh?? I couldn't find a way to ACTUALLY fully cancel it. I have just been going week to week and praying that I don't get charged again. You paid $300 CAD over just scheduling an appointmenT? 😅

[@CarterSullivan]

There's a button on the profile page to cancel it on the website! No I said in the video I had my annual hair appointment as well lol! But $70 of this was because of the prescription issue and my doctors office not faxing it over but luckily got reimbursed by insurance after filming this 😊

[@simplyboppingK]

@@CarterSullivan oh okay I was going to say. I’ll have to check that out and see if I can somehow find it 😭 if so TIA!!!

[@actgirl1234567]

❤❤❤

[@LOSTobsession1415]

Your raise gets back paid? I've never heard of that, wow!

[@CarterSullivan]

Yep its pretty common in the healthcare system (in Canada at least) if our unions get us a raise we usually get it back paid! The amount of time varies sometimes its for a year or two!

[@LOSTobsession1415]

@@CarterSullivanthat’s awesome. Sadly that is not the experience with American healthcare positions :(

[@marianaanchante]

I’m so glad the budgeting videos are back. 🥹

[@hannahperkoengel]

Thank you so much for sharing where some of your previous money habits came from! I wish this subject was more talked about with personal finance like our stories and how well we know ourselves are such a big part of our financial habits. it’s empowering to make changes! 🥲

[@CarterSullivan]

I totally agree! It's easy to watch a budget video and think "wow they are good with their money" but that's not always how they were. It probably gets repetitive in every finance video but its so important to discuss IMO since there's always new people here (and totally understand those who don't feel comfortable talking about it). But I was not able to overcome my spending problems until I figured out the root cause of those problems and I think its so important to share! Glad you enjoyed that segment 🥰

[@F0reverandAlwaysss]

Car insurance in the states is ridiculous right now too! I've never been in an accident but my car insurance went up $75 a month??? Also love these videos!! Your monthly resets and budgeting updates were the reason I clicked on your channel. 🤍

[@CarterSullivan]

Its crazy! My car insurance agent said he has barely seen anyone's insurance go down this year