Budgeting and Saving
Budgeting means creating a plan for how you'll spend and save your money — including how much you want to invest.
- Know how much money you have to invest after covering your needs (like rent, food, bills).
- Set goals — for example: "I want to invest $200 per month."
- Track your progress to stay on course.
Example:
You earn $2,000/month and make a budget like this:
- Rent: $700
- Food: $300
- Bills: $200
- Emergency savings: $200
- Investments: $300
- Fun & other: $300
So, your budget helps you commit to investing regularly.
What is Saving in Investment?
Saving is setting money aside — usually in a safe place, like a savings account — for short-term or emergency use.
Saving vs. Investing
| Saving | Investing |
|---|---|
| Safe, low risk | Higher risk, higher return |
| Short-term goals | Long-term growth |
| Low or fixed returns | Returns vary (stocks, funds, etc.) |
| Easily accessible | May take time to sell or grow |
In Investing, Saving Matters Because:
- You need emergency savings before you invest (so you're not forced to sell investments early).
- Saving helps you build the capital you later invest.
How They Work Together
- Budget → Make space in your income to save and invest.
- Save → Build your emergency fund or short-term reserves.
- Invest → Grow your money over time for long-term goals like buying a house, retirement, etc.
Simple Analogy: Think of budgeting as the map, saving as the fuel, and investing as the journey to your financial goals.