Long time, no see! I am so glad to be back writing emails. It feels so much more personal than a social media post.

Life lately has been hectic. I feel like everyone says that, so I don't say that lightly. I won't get into everything that has been going on in my life, but the main thing is the breastfeeding baby fog. My youngest is going on eight months and still exclusively breastfeeds and wakes up multiple times in the night, so my mind is not very sharp right now to say the least! This has made SO many things difficult, even the most basic things.

One of those things is budgeting. I am sad to say I have majorly FAILED at budgeting for my family the last few months.

As someone who typically loves budgeting, looking at the numbers, and making spreadsheets for fun...I was definitely surprised to realize that even I need a break from my normal budget routine sometimes.

If you're in a budgeting SLUMP, try budgeting differently this month and see if it re-inspires you to tackle those financial goals.

Different Budgeting Methods to Try

1. Paper budget - Honestly, one of my favorite ways to budget besides the spreadsheet is on good, old-fashioned paper. If you're looking for a paper budget with a little more guidance than just a notebook, check out my home budget binder printables!
2. Spreadsheet - Do you normally budget on paper or let the app do the work for you? There is something so satisfying about crunching the numbers and seeing it all balance. Try a template, like my Google Sheets pay period budget template, so you don't have to make one from scratch.
3. App - There are so many great budgeting apps out there! One of my favorites is Monarch. They offer a complete financial dashboard that helps track your spending for you. One of my favorite features is that you can connect your spouse to it and both receive spending breakdown emails! Get a 30-day free trial with my link.​

I hope one of these suggestions helps! Feel free to respond with any budget questions.

-Avery