Ask me anything about zero-based budgeting and our monthly budget

[Statsquestion1]

I love budgeting. I have always done it. Been meaning to post here for a while.
I do a based budget, so everything is accounted for. I have posted on many “money matters” topics but thought it might be different to post an AMA.
I am currently revising the budget as I do it every 6 months or so.
as it currently stands its

Me 3100
DP4100
CB 280
Total 7480

Housing
Mortgage: 1900.
Insurances(life, house): 150
Property tax: 50
Total Housing: 2100
Utilities
Electricity 150
Waste collection: 25
Broadband & TV: 70
Mobile phones x3: 60
Total Utilities: 305
Food & Groceries
Groceries & household food: 500
Dining out / takeaways: 200
Total Food: 700
Transportation
Fuel: 150
Car insurance & tax: 150
Maintenance & NCT: 100
Public transport / Parking: 20
Total Transport: 420
Education & Kids
School books, uniforms, fees: 50
Activities, sports, clubs: 55
Pocket money/treats: 60
Total Kids & Education: 165
Entertainment & Lifestyle
Family outings, hobbies, gifts: 250
Subscriptions: 20
Miscellaneous expenses (haircuts etc): 60
Personal spends:250x 2 = 500
Clothing: 200
Total Entertainment: 1030
Savings & Miscellaneous
Emergency fund / Savings: 2,000
Holidays (monthly allocation): 500
DC Savings: 150x 2= 300
Total Savings & Misc.: 2800
TOTAL MONTHLY SPENDING: 7,480

I’ve never heard of zero based budgeting.

It literally just means that every penny gets a job. Theres no leftover as such. Everything has a purpose

yet another tone deaf thread in a cost of living crisis with an OP boasting about how much they earn and how much they save each month 🙄

Plenty of people turn to here for budgeting advice. I’m not boasting just sharing my tactics.

What’s CB?

You haven't listed any tactics or tips. You've just listed how much money you have. Come on..

Where’s your council tax?

It's usually a ruse to get you to sign up to YNAB, where you pay for an app to tell you the bleeding obvious and what Moneysaving Expert will tell you for free.

The OP is in Ireland, but never mentions it when she posts her budget. It's also a lot easier to budget when your income comfortably covers your expenses with thousands a month left over to save.

People will be more interested if you show how you can find money to replace the washing machine in the same month that you need to pay for school uniforms and you've only got 200 of your unspecified currency in your emergency fund.

I do this too OP, I didn’t realise this is what it’s called.

You’d better explain you’re in Ireland now before you have to explain for the millionth time why you get CB 🤣

Is CB child benefit? I’m fairly sure you’re earning far too much to claim that.

I’d find it easy to budget to the penny too if I had over £7k a month coming in 🤣

The point is to ASK….its AMA!

Sorry I’d posted before I saw this!

You save more than I earn after tax 🤣

Oh dear yes forgot about that again!

I’m in Ireland

We don’t have council tax here, it’s property tax.

Are we supposed to be impressed?
er- well done op!

How does budgeting impact you psychologically? I ask because I have recently started zero-based budgeting and have mixed feelings about how it makes me feel about money.

I find it helps me tbh, it’s a control thing (don’t think that’s a bad thing) I just like to feel like everything is on order and doing what it’s supposed to iyswim

How is it making you feel?

When and why did you start doing this and do you have any tips on getting started?
Have you always earned well?

Good AMA!

I earn no where near what you earn but I’m not offended! I’m interested.

What do you do with the bits left over eg 250 is allocated to outings hobbies and gifts so if you only spend 234 where does the balance go or do you roll it over to next month .

I do this and even though I save, I feel like I have no money at the end of the month and am in a hamster wheel.

I need a little spontaneity so every now and then so spend a little out of savings. Life places so many rules on us that sometimes it’s good to break your own.

Yes we should be impressed , aspiration is good . I don’t know why it’s always a race to the bottom with these threads as if no one wealthy should have any interest in their finances .