For years, I had a rough budget, but I barely looked at it or properly kept track of what I was spending money on. And I never considered, “What are my personal priorities?” and “Do my personal priorities match my budget?”
Thought-provoking, isn’t it?
Recently, I sat down and wrote out my priorities to help me consider what I am spending money on. Now, I am doing a No Buy Year, so I am not spending that much money. But still, it is helpful to consider my personal priorities with my budget.
Here’s my list of personal priorities:
Faith: Relationship with God and integrating faith into my family life.
Relationship with my husband: My husband is a very important (and handsome) priority – love, friendship, and respect.
Relationship with my children: Quality time with my children, with care, compassion, patience, love, forgiveness, and wisdom. (This is easier said than done.)
Friendships: Having a lovely circle of friends who are a positive influence on my life. Joy.
Work: Having a good work/life balance and working with integrity.
Health: Prioritizing nutrition and healthy food choices and exercising the recommended amount (I am not doing this well). Practicing self-care and self-compassion. Ensuring that I am getting enough rest and relaxation.
Creative & fun: Having time to be creative and to have fun in my life.
Finances: Being wise with finances and practicing generosity.
Simplicity: Simple living and staying focused on what’s truly important to me.
In this list, I also tried to add some of my values. My priorities should help me work out how to allocate my time, energy, and resources.
Now, when I look at my budget, this list helps me consider what I am spending money on to ensure it matches my personal priorities. I probably need to have another look at my budget this month. Hmmm…..
Question for you: Have you ever considered how your budget aligns with your own personal priorities?