Course 01
Foundations of Budgeting
BeginnerBuild a simple, realistic budget that actually survives real life. Start by tracking where money goes, then layer in goals and systems.
Course outline
You’ll map every inflow and outflow for a real week or month, then group it into simple categories so you can see patterns at a glance.
- Simple tracking method (notes app / sheet / bank export)
- Grouping expenses into 4–6 buckets
- Spotting leaks without guilt or shame
Convert your real numbers into a one-page budget: income at the top, goals next, then spending buckets that fit inside what’s left.
- Zero-based vs percentage-based budgets
- Prioritizing essentials, goals, and fun money
- Setting “good enough” ranges instead of perfect numbers
Learn how to roll with surprises using “mini-resets” instead of throwing the whole plan in the trash the second something goes wrong.
- Mid-month check-ins (15–20 minutes)
- Moving money between categories on purpose
- What to do when you overspend
© Finance For The Future is a free educational portfolio project. It simulates hypothetical outcomes and provides learning materials only. It is not financial, legal, tax, or investment advice.