How To Make A Budget | Budgeting For Beginners | Aja Dang

Hey everyone! I'm Aja Dang and after an entire year of budgeting and paying off debt, I finally put together a How To Budget video. I didn't want to go too in depth into budgeting for those beginners - I didn't want to scare, overwhelm or confuse you. So hopefully these basic tips will teach you how to make a budget and save money.

• Mentioned •

•BUDGETS•

•SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL•

•STAY CONNECTED•
Snapchat: ajadang

• GRAPHICS: •

☞ MY SIDE HUSTLE APPS I TALKED ABOUT:

*this video is not sponsored

[AjaDang]

Hey everyone! I wanted to make this video as simple as possible (without scaring some new budgeters) but I do want to add some answers that I feel you all might ask:
1. I paid off my loans from smallest debt to largest. It didn't matter what the interest rate was. Paying off debts smallest to largest has allowed me to feel the confidence of paying off loans, which has driven me throughout the process. But you do you.
2. I don't do a zero-based budget (meaning you have given e.v.e.r.y. single cent of your money a place to go before the month ends.) As a freelancer, that makes me really uncomfortable as my income isn't guaranteed. So any income left after completing my budget is thrown to my loans and then I keep a little cushion in my bank account every month. That "cushion" really depends on how confident I feel about the amount I'm getting paid next.
3. I also have a $10, 000 emergency fund. Dave Ramsey suggests $1, 000 but again, as a freelancer, I've had months where I wasn't paid ANYTHING. zero. So this emergency fund + the cushion I leave in my account each month, makes me comfortable enough to throw as much money I can towards my student loans.

I think that's it!

[theweekdayweekender]

you are the Marie Kondo of money, I love it

[nicholelawrence]

This video was so great, it made complete sense! I am a 19 year old college student in NYC. There's the joke that it costs $100 just to step outside in New York, but it is really true. I was lucky enough to learn about financial literacy in high school, however I still make mistakes. I stopped budgeting last year and by the end of the semester when I realized I had only $200 in my savings, I decided to take a look at my bank statements- you're so right, it's terrifying! I had spent over $2000 shopping and eating out in just 3 months. It was a real wake up call and strongly encourage people to look at their own! Starting the New Year I am making it my mission to be more diligent with budgeting again, this video clearly explained your process and I was able to take a lot from it. And she is very right about budgets being customized, they are different for everyone. Listen to Aja, she knows her stuff! Again, great video!!

[JayPalfrey]

this video is what they need to teach us in school ! thank you <3

[Clau]

LOVE all your budget/ financial videos!

[Sweet_mimii]

I heard $2000 every two weeks and cried. Lol I WISH. *sigh*

[AntonyLe]

Hahah im glad she said "pay attention to what I'm saying" at 2:08, cuz i was looking at the open drawer im the background. Is that candle lit!?

[ilonna]

Aja, I just wanted to say thank you very much😘. Thanks to you I have took my financial freedom seriously, I have my budget now and plan what and how I want to save. I have only mortgage to pay, so I am not in a bad situation, but my money were just disappearing each month without me knowing how and why. I was not controlling it at all. Thank you for empowering me. Also I got myself passion planner - it is fantastic. Thank you so much Aja. You are awesome, keep up the great job and take it easy, don't be to harsh on yourself. You should be so proud of your last year financial journey. Best wishes.💪👍😁

[madasusual]

My biggest budgeting vice is coffee. For me, I spent way to much at coffee shops and although its great to get out and all. I could always make myself a coffee and go for a walk or something.

Starting out fresh this month 🤗

[indiefairy]

You’re journey has motivated to finally take control of my finances. And this is the best budget video I’ve seen. I love that you’re not so militant and strict and understanding that we all have different priorities

[sereinwu]

Thank you for posting this. Freelancing and coming up with a budget is so confusing for us sometimes. I currently trying to focus on a no buy the first quarter to just evaluate my emotions and mentality towards spending.

So much of all my problems stem from this.

THANK YOU for making me feel better about talking about money.

[emmienagata]

As a freelancer, I am SO GRATEFUL for your finance content!! So helpful and informative, and always so real. Thank you!!!

[succds]

Could you please post a video on how to create this excel sheet?

[sivansaar]

With the help of this video, I now managed to compile my first ever legit spreadsheet budget. As a freelancer myself who also struggles with un-even months and cashflow, I had no idea how to go about it and this video finally helped me make sense of how I can really budget and for the first time actually dream of future goals. Thank you so much for all of this! It's super helpful!

[brokenthumbs]

Thank you for your budget videos. I recommend these to people who have financial budget questions because you clearly explain a budget system, the logic you used, and wrap it up by relating it to your personal experience which makes you easily relatable.

[angelayunjoo]

Much needed video!! Just finished the total money makeover because of you! You are such an inspiration!! Thank you 🥰🥰

[mariep]

It sucks that I make a lot less working as an intern and going to school full time. I got a second job because my first income simply isn’t enough to cover all of my rent, utilities, car insurance, and dog food expenses. Girl I am struggling but at least I know where each penny is going.

[nisrineg.]

Your budgeting sheet is very useful, I've started using it and looking through my expenses during these last months i'm just shocked because i never realized in which categories i would actually spend the most. Thank you for your transparency girl!

[AishahB]

I just want to let you know that you've inspired me to start budgeting so, THANK <3

[lisajohnson]

I really enjoy these videos, Aja. Seeing how you organize your finances and tackle your debt has given me some ideas for what might possibly work for me. I recently set up a separate account for set expenses (my monthly and semi-annual/annual amounts, from the huge things like rent, to the smaller ones like iCloud storage). I tallied up what I needed to set aside for those per month and halved it, because I get paid every two weeks. I have that amount direct deposited into my expense account, and then the rest goes into my regular checking for groceries, eating out, etc. 

Having a pool of money to draw from that grows larger and larger if I don't spend it as really helped me curb my impulse purchases, and at the end of the month I just throw whatever I have left in there toward the car loan I'm trying to pay off (I have the same emergency fund you do).

Watching your journey has been really inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!