Zero-based budgeting

Leveling up your money management is a great thing, especially if you've got goals. 

Zero-based budgeting could help you optimize your finances (that’s a fancy way of saying that it makes you the boss of your bucks). You get to decide which expenses serve you—and put all of your money toward those things. You’re not just watching the game. You’re making strategic plays with the goal of winning.

Let’s dive into how it works.

What is zero-based budgeting?

Zero-based budgeting is a system that applies your income to one of three categories: expenses, savings, or debt repayment. The goal of a zero-based budget (sometimes called a “zero-base budget”) is to have nothing left over at the end of the month. 

This kind of budget can help you be more intentional with your money. Since you have to give every dollar a job, you’ll know where all of your money goes. 

Traditional ways of budgeting usually don’t require you to account for every dollar. The flexibility can be nice, but it’s easier to spend leftover income instead of saving it or paying down debt. Zero-base budgeting avoids that, because after subtracting expenses, savings, and debt repayment from your income, you should be left with zero. 

That's not the same thing as living paycheck-to-paycheck (as in, you only have enough money to cover expenses until you get paid again). Zero-based budgeting means planning out what to do with your paychecks, so that you meet all your needs and work toward your goals. 

Benefits of zero-based budgeting

Following a zero-based budget could help you take control of your money, because you have to find the best way to use your income. If there's only so much money coming in, you have to be deliberate about prioritizing expenses. Needs come first, then savings and debt repayment, then wants. 

A zero-based budget can help you cut down on impulse purchases and unnecessary spending. You can take the money you would have spent and put it toward basic needs, allocate it to savings, or chip away at credit cards or other kinds of debt. 

If you've struggled with sticking to your budget, a zero-base budget system could help you take charge of your finances. Zero-based budgeting might not work for everyone, but if you like to dig into the numbers and set rules for spending, it can be a good fit. 

Step-by-step guide to zero-based budgeting

Making a zero-base budget is usually the most challenging when you're doing it for the first time. Once you get into the habit, it becomes easier. 

Here's how the budgeting process works. 

• Add up your income. Zero-based budgeting starts with knowing how much money you’re working with. “Income” includes any money that comes in regularly. You might make money from a part-time or full-time job, side hustles, or gig work. Child support and alimony could also go here.

• List your expenses. List everything you spend money on, including necessities like rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and groceries, as well as non-essentials like clothes or dinners out. You’ll rank your expenses, with needs at the top. You’re not just scrutinizing your expenses to make sure you can afford them. You’re also deciding whether each expense moves you closer to where you want to be.

Pro tip: If you need to know what you're spending each month, consider using a free budgeting app to keep track. You can sync the app to your bank account to easily record where your money goes. 

• Decide how much to apply to savings. The zero-based budget method includes room for saving, so think about your financial goals. If you want to build a $10,000 emergency fund, for example, figure out how much you could put toward that goal each month. 

• Calculate how much should go to paying down debt. Look at what you're already paying. Then ask yourself how much you need to pay to hit your goal. For example, say you want to pay off a credit card that has a $10,000 balance and a 17% APR over the next 12 months. You would need to budget about $912 per month to reach that goal. Whether that's realistic depends on how much money you've already allocated to expenses and savings in your budget. 

Pro tip: A debt consolidation loan could be a good strategy to get rid of your debt, especially if you can get a lower interest rate. 

• Assign each dollar of income. Once you've identified your expenses, savings goals, and debt repayment goals, the last step is allocation. Here, you take the income number you calculated in step one and decide where every dollar of it goes. This is usually the most time-consuming part of making a zero-based budget, because you go through each budget category in detail. 

Tips for a successful zero-based budget

Making a zero-based budget is pretty straightforward, but often, the challenge is sticking to it. Here are a few tips for a successful budgeting journey. 

• Review your expenses before getting started. Switching to a zero-based budget will only take you so far if you don't know what you're spending money on. It's helpful to go over your spending for the previous three to six months. That can give you a good idea of how you spend, so you know which budget categories to include. 

• Account for irregular expenses. Some expenses might get paid periodically, rather than monthly. For example, you might pay car insurance premiums twice a year. The best way to account for those expenses is to include saving for them as a line item in your budget. That way, you’ll have the cash to cover them when they're due. 

• Get a month ahead. If you can, getting a month ahead on bills can give you some breathing room, in case your income drops or you run into a higher-than-expected expense. If you have money in savings, you could use that to pay bills ahead. If not, you might tweak your zero-base budget to apply extra money to bills and a little less to savings or wants. 

• Plan budget dates. Zero-based budgeting isn't “set it and forget it.” Review your budget at least monthly to make any adjustments to your spending plan if needed. You might schedule your budget dates around the times you get your paychecks to make dividing up your income easier. 

• Reward yourself. Last but not least, remember why you're budgeting in the first place, and reward yourself when you get a win. If you come in under-budget, for instance, you could give yourself a small treat with some of the leftover cash, and put the rest toward your financial goals. That can help you stay motivated to stick with your zero-based budget plan.