The best way to budget is with buckets! Any Cash Control member will understand what we mean by this. When you get paid, you should automatically split your money up into your buckets. That way the money is put where it is supposed to be until you need it. Our buckets are - Cash Bucket, Big Ticket Bucket and the Savings Bucket. Making the divvy up to the buckets happen automatically is critical, you don't want to have to worry about it.
Normally people would set these bucket transfers up as automatic payments. Some banks are offering a good way to do this without needing traditional automatic payments. Before your pay even hits your account, it is split into your respective accounts/buckets. I know Kiwibank offer this (it is called Paystream) and I also know that Westpac do. Ask your bank if they will do it? If they can't, then get them to waive or refund your AP fees for a few months as a consolation!
One thing to watch for if you do user these "paysplit" facilities is the fees for making changes. If you simply want to change the amount going to each account/bucket (a simple budgeting task) you have to pay $3. So check before you sign up and see what works best for you.
Control,
Cam