Disclaimer: While I’ve learned a lot, we are continuously refining our processes. This article is simply a view into the finances of a DINK couple. In all things we say “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” – James 4:15 NIV

Before marriage I never had a budget. I was always able to save money pretty well though and as long as I paid my tithes and my savings account grew I felt like I was doing well. Adding another person into the equation leveled up my desire to be more responsible though. I looked at combining our incomes as a way to build a life we both wanted. The more I thought about the possibilities the more I wanted to be hands on with things. That’s how I became the one who handles our finances. My goal for us is to pay our bills, contribute to retirement, enjoy our lives in the moment, and show our gratitude to God by giving our tithes and offerings faithfully. To read more about our finances, such as where we are financially, our credit scores, retirement, goals, and what influences our decisions, please check out ‘Bianca and Josh’s Financials: Updated Annually.’

Current Budget Method – Zero-sum: a method of managing our finances where every dollar of income is assigned a specific purpose.

Benefits:

• Control: Helps us see exactly where our money is going.
• Savings & Goals: Encourages us to prioritize what is most important to us.
• Flexibility: We can adjust the budget each month as priorities change.

Challenges:

• Discipline: Requires consistent tracking of spending and adjustments.
• Time: It can take effort to set up and maintain.

It’s like giving every dollar a job, so it’s working for us instead of disappearing into the void of untracked expenses!

Budget for Current Year (Monthly)
Giving
$1,250
Bills
Rent $2050
Utilities, Cat Supplies, Cell Phone, Subscriptions, Insurance, Gym membership, Haircuts  $680 
Food $600
Gas $250
Student Loans $160
Retirement Roth IRA’s
$650
Funds
Car $120
Emergency $300
Josh/Bianca Personal Savings $200/each
Vacation $500
House $2150
Entertainment $216

One thing I’d like to note about our base budget is how much I agree with the adage ‘failure to plan is planning to fail’ but also understand that change is constant. By planning we avoid unnecessary spending and make managing our finances more intentional. However, with zero-sum budgeting when expenses change, we can reallocate funds as necessary. My article, ‘Dental Bills and Divine Lessons’, shares a story about our most recent unexpected financial setback. You can read how we adjusted our budget in ‘Don’t panic: Zero-Sum Budgeting for Big Expenses.’

Here’s a chart to see the info above and our current financial state together.

Thanks for reading a story from Childfree Christians—choosing joy, purpose, and a whole lot of freedom.