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THE LIBRARY · FOUNDATIONBudgeting shelf

Budgeting

Give every dollar a job: methods, systems, and a budget that fits the life you want.

Three books, read in order: the foundations, then the strategies, then a deep dive. Each chapter works its numbers out with the calculators and cites its sources.

Volumes3
Chapters22
Reading time2.1 h
Calculators7
READ IN THIS ORDERFoundations → Strategies → Deep dive
01
VOL 1 · FOUNDATIONSBudgeting Methods & Fundamentals8 chapters · 45 min
  1. 01Why Budgets Fail and How to Build One That Lasts
  2. 02Building the Structure: Take-Home Pay, Order and Accounts
  3. 03Cash Flow: Matching Bills to Paydays
  4. 04The 50/30/20 Method
  5. 05Envelope Budgeting With Cash or Apps
  6. 06Spending on What You Value
  7. 07Zero-Based Budgeting: A Job for Every Dollar
  8. 08Choosing a Budgeting Method That Fits
02
VOL 2 · STRATEGIESBudgeting Systems & Real-Life Solutions7 chapters · 40 min
  1. 01Automating Your Budget
  2. 02Choosing a Tool and Tracking What Matters
  3. 03Monthly and Quarterly Budget Reviews
  4. 04Budgeting as a Couple or Family
  5. 05Budgeting on an Irregular Income
  6. 06Adjusting Your Budget When Life Changes
  7. 07Getting Back on Track After a Setback
03
VOL 3 · DEEP DIVELifestyle Design & Intentional Budgeting7 chapters · 41 min
  1. 01Spending by Your Values
  2. 02Spending Plans That Run Themselves
  3. 03Cutting Ruthlessly, Spending Lavishly
  4. 04Raises Without Lifestyle Creep
  5. 05Designing the Life First, Then the Numbers
  6. 06Money as a Couple and a Family
  7. 07Staying Intentional Over Decades
CALCULATORS FOR THIS SHELF
Latte Factor Calculator →What does a recurring small spend cost me invested, and how much does it delay FI?Lifestyle Creep Detector →Has my spending grown faster than income, and what does it cost my FI date?Subscription cost audit →How much am I really paying for subscriptions per year?Paycheck budget →How should I split each paycheck between bills, savings and spending?HYSA vs T-bill vs CD vs MMF after tax →After federal and state tax, where should my cash sit?Down payment savings timeline →How long to save a down payment plus closing costs?Emergency fund calculator →How many months of expenses do I have saved, and how many do I need?
TERMS ON THIS SHELF
Lifestyle creepEmergency fundTake-home payPay yourself first50/30/20 ruleEnvelope budgetingSinking fundZero-based budgetMental accountingBudget varianceFixed expenseVariable expensePresent biasOpportunity costHedonic adaptationHouse hackingStandby powerAnnual percentage yield (APY)Deposit insurance (FDIC and NCUA)CD ladderTreasury billI bond (Series I savings bond)Values-based spendingHigh-yield savings accountSubscription creepCost per useAutomatic renewalBilling error disputeSunk cost fallacy