Al-Dai al-Ajal Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (RA) states: “Properly balance your household expenditure. Do not spend more than what you earn. One should create a budget according to his earnings.”
The importance of proper budgeting and prudent spending has been discussed numerous times through the ages by Awliyaullah AS. So how does one actually go about planning their budget wisely and hashing it out with their long term financial goals?
Let’s begin by understanding what a household budget really entails.
A household budget is a plan that outlines how much money a household expects to earn and spend over a certain period of time, typically a month. It helps individuals and families manage their finances by tracking income and expenses, and making informed decisions about how to allocate their resources. The budget includes a list of all sources of income, as well as fixed and variable expenses such as rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, entertainment, and savings.
How much of an impact does a household budget have on the financial security of a family?
A household budget can have a profound impact on the long-term financial security of a family. By creating and sticking to a budget, families can develop healthy financial habits that can last a lifetime. Here are a few ways that a household budget can help improve long-term financial security:
Reducing debt: A budget helps families control their spending and avoid unnecessary debt. It is imperative that you set aside a certain amount each month for the repayment of your Qardan Hasana if your installments are running.
Saving for the future: A budget helps families identify areas where they can cut expenses and allocate those savings towards long-term goals, such as saving for a child’s education.
Preparing for emergencies: A budget helps families set aside funds for unexpected expenses or emergencies, such as a car repair or medical bill. By having an emergency fund, families can avoid going into debt or having to dip into long-term savings to cover unexpected expenses.
Building financial discipline: By creating and sticking to a budget, families can develop the discipline and skills needed to manage their finances effectively over the long term. This can help them avoid financial mistakes and make informed decisions about their money, leading to greater financial security and peace of mind.
What are long term financial goals?
Long-term financial goals are financial objectives that an individual or family sets for the future, typically spanning several years or even decades. These goals are usually tied to major life events or financial milestones, and require sustained effort and planning to achieve. Here are a few examples of long-term financial goals:
Education: A very common long-term financial goal is to save for a child’s education, such as college or graduate school.
Homeownership: Buying a home is a major financial goal for many people, and requires long-term planning and saving.
Starting a business: Starting a business is another long-term financial goal that requires planning and preparation. This might involve developing a business plan, identifying funding sources etc.
Deeni Umoor: Attending Ashara Mubaraka with Huzurala TUS, Ziyaafat, Ziyaarat of Karbala Moalla, and performing Hajj among other umoor also need to be accounted for when apportioning money under different long-term financial goals.
Setting long-term financial goals is helpful for several reasons:
Provides clarity and direction: Long-term financial goals provide a clear sense of direction for an individual or family’s financial future. They help to identify what is important and what needs to be accomplished in order to achieve a desired financial outcome.
Encourages financial discipline: By setting long-term financial goals, individuals are forced to think beyond immediate financial needs or wants and adopt a more disciplined approach to managing their finances. This helps to prioritize spending, avoid unnecessary debt and expenses, and ultimately build wealth over time.
Establishes a plan of action: Setting long-term financial goals requires the development of a plan of action, which can help to identify key steps needed to achieve these goals. This can help individuals to break down large, complex financial goals into smaller, more manageable steps, making them feel more achievable and less daunting.
Provides motivation: Long-term financial goals can provide a sense of motivation and purpose, which can help to maintain focus and commitment towards achieving these goals over time. By establishing clear, measurable goals and tracking progress towards them, individuals can see how their efforts are paying off and feel encouraged to continue working towards their financial goals.
Increases financial security: Achieving long-term financial goals can increase financial security and stability, by building wealth and developing healthy financial habits. This can help individuals and families to weather unexpected expenses, or other financial setbacks, reducing stress and anxiety around finances.
So what are the steps you can take to align your household budget with long term financial goals?
Identify your long-term financial goals: The first step is to identify your long-term financial goals. This will give you a clear idea of what you are working towards and what you need to prioritize in your budget.
Assess your current spending: Take a close look at your current spending to see where your money is going and identify areas where you can cut back. This might involve reducing discretionary expenses such as dining out or entertainment, or finding ways to save on essential expenses.
Create a budget: Once you have a clear sense of your long-term financial goals and your current spending habits, create a budget that allocates your income towards your goals.
Monitor your progress: Regularly monitor your progress towards your long-term financial goals, and adjust your budget as needed. This might involve making changes to your spending habits or finding ways to increase your income to help you reach your goals more quickly.
Make adjustments as needed: Over time, your long-term financial goals may change or your financial circumstances may shift. It’s important to regularly reassess your goals and make adjustments to your budget as needed to ensure you are staying on track.
Aligning your household budget with your long-term financial goals can be helpful as it provides a roadmap for achieving your goals, helps you prioritize your spending, promotes financial discipline and healthy habits, and provides peace of mind that you’re on the right track.The new FY is nigh! Use the household budgeting tool of Idaarah al-Tijaarat al-Raabehah that can help you by providing a structured approach to managing your finances, making it easier to track your income and expenses, identify areas where you can cut back, and allocate funds towards your financial goals. It can also help you monitor your progress towards your goals and adjust your budget as needed.
