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How-To · 6 min read

How to build a budget in 30 minutes

You don't need an app subscription or a spreadsheet degree. This is the shortest path from "where does my money go?" to a working plan.

1. Pull last month's numbers

Download the last full month of transactions from every account. Group them into four buckets: essentials, lifestyle, saving, one-offs.

2. Set target percentages

Aim for roughly 50% essentials, 30% lifestyle, 20% saving. Adjust to reality — the point is that every pound has a job.

3. Split your money on payday

Open (or nominate) three accounts: bills, spending, saving. On payday, standing orders move the right amount into each. What's in spending is what you have.

4. Review weekly, adjust monthly

Ten minutes on Sunday to check spending is enough. Once a month, tune the percentages. Budgets fail when they're perfect — not when they're rough.

Key takeaways

  • Three accounts beat one clever app.
  • Automate on payday — decisions happen once.
  • Rough and repeated beats perfect and abandoned.