Article updated on Aug 28, 2024
If the word 'budget' makes you want to run and hide, I've got the solution.
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Written by Bernadette Joy Money coach and founder of Crush Your Money Goals Bernadette Joy is a money expert that offers relatable advice on achieving financial freedom. She paid off $300,000 of debt in three years and invested enough to retire by 40. Bernadette has shared her expertise on TEDx, South By Southwest, and Nasdaq. Bernadette's upcoming book, CRUSH Your Money Goals, will be released in December 2024.
Edited by Dashia is a staff editor for CNET Money who covers all angles of personal finance, including credit cards and banking. From reviews to news coverage, she aims to help readers make more informed decisions about their money. Dashia was previously a staff writer at NextAdvisor, where she covered credit cards, taxes, banking B2B payments. She has also written about safety, home automation, technology and fintech. Laura Michelle Davis Editor Laura is a professional nitpicker and good-humored troubleshooter with over 10 years of experience in print and digital publishing. Before becoming an editor with CNET, she worked as an English teacher, Spanish medical interpreter, copy editor and proofreader. She is a fearless but flexible defender of both grammar and weightlifting, and firmly believes that technology should serve the people. Her first computer was a Macintosh Plus.
CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review the products and services we cover. If you buy through our links, we may get paid.
Reviews ethics statementOur Experts
Written by Bernadette Joy Money coach and founder of Crush Your Money Goals Bernadette Joy is a money expert that offers relatable advice on achieving financial freedom. She paid off $300,000 of debt in three years and invested enough to retire by 40. Bernadette has shared her expertise on TEDx, South By Southwest, and Nasdaq. Bernadette's upcoming book, CRUSH Your Money Goals, will be released in December 2024.
Edited by Dashia is a staff editor for CNET Money who covers all angles of personal finance, including credit cards and banking. From reviews to news coverage, she aims to help readers make more informed decisions about their money. Dashia was previously a staff writer at NextAdvisor, where she covered credit cards, taxes, banking B2B payments. She has also written about safety, home automation, technology and fintech. Laura Michelle Davis Editor Laura is a professional nitpicker and good-humored troubleshooter with over 10 years of experience in print and digital publishing. Before becoming an editor with CNET, she worked as an English teacher, Spanish medical interpreter, copy editor and proofreader. She is a fearless but flexible defender of both grammar and weightlifting, and firmly believes that technology should serve the people. Her first computer was a Macintosh Plus.
CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review the products and services we cover. If you buy through our links, we may get paid.
Reviews ethics statementWhy You Can Trust CNET Money
Table of Contents
- Why you dread your boring budget
- Think of your budget as your bestie
- Put your Strive category first, seriously
- Your Revive category helps you live a fulfilled life
- Set your Survive category to autopay
- Personalize your budget to make it fun
- No budget is perfect
Bernadette Joy; Zooey Liao/CNET
Written by
Bernadette Joy
Money coach and founder of Crush Your Money Goals
Bernadette Joy is a money expert that offers relatable advice on achieving financial freedom. She paid off $300,000 of debt in three years and invested enough to retire by 40. Bernadette has shared her expertise on TEDx, South By Southwest, and Nasdaq. Bernadette's upcoming book, CRUSH Your Money Goals, will be released in December 2024.