Accountant's four step budgeting routine will save you money after every payday

Saving money can be a difficult task, let alone trying to follow a strict budget. Fortunatley, for those who don't know where to start, money expert and TikToker Beth (@budgetjonesdiary_) has shared her simple payday routine that makes saving money easier.

Beth is a chartered accountant and aims to help people save money and "ditch their debt." In a recent post, Beth shared the four simple steps you can take each payday to help save, budget and plan ahead.

The routine takes a zero-based budgeting outlook - which means budgeting by justifying and approving all expenses for each month, rather than basing it on your past spending. According to the British Business Bank, by starting from a 'zero base' at the beginning of each budget, you can create a really effective process for analysing and deciding where to allocate your funds.

Beth's four step payday routine

One: budget

First, I check the money received matches my payslip. Next, I move any money leftover from the month before into savings, so I can start from scratch.

Two: bills

From my budget, I transfer out any shared expenses into a ‘bills only’ joint account. I leave behind any money I need for personal bills in my bank account.

Three: savings

I transfer any sinking funds and spending money for the month into a new bank account. Then I shuffle everything into their own individual pots.

Four: future

Money leftover is then used to fund my Stocks & Shares ISA. This is an investing account which will look after future me.

In the post's caption, Beth went on to explain the steps further and wrote: "I start by clearing any money I have leftover in my current account into savings, so I can start fresh every month. This amount will vary but it’s nice to get a little boost regardless

"Then it’s time to do the money shuffle. A quick check in with my partner to make sure all joint bills are accounted for and then I move my 50% into our account ready for them to come out. I also have some personal expenses such as dancing, gym etc which I budget for and this money is left behind in my current account (aka this becomes purely a ‘Beth’s Bills’ account).

"I then move allllll other money into a different account - this is so bills can do their thing uninterrupted, and I then know what money I’ve got to play with for the month in my new account Taking the amounts from my budget, I shuffle my various savings into their pots as well as my spending money for the month.

"Any money now leftover after thinking about current me’s needs is popped into my Stocks and Shares ISA to look after future me."