If you want to build the best budget possible you need to check out these sinking funds categories
Budgeting is kind of a gateway drug, but this happens to be the good kind of drug (if there is such a thing); it’s the responsibility drug. Once you nail budgeting and see the freedom it brings (emotional and physical), you will want to keep it going to keep that feeling of achievement & security going!
The next natural step after budgeting is saving money. This could be filling your emergency fund (this is a must-have) and saving for things you want. Notice I said things you “want”; this is the main distinction between budgeting and saving.
Budgeting = spending plan for what you need soon
Saving = setting money aside for what you want later
One of the very best ways to save money is using sinking funds, and I can say that without a doubt that sinking funds have been the key to the success of my family’s finances! It has allowed me to buy my family everything that we need and much of what we want!
Let’s go through a list of sinking funds categories so you can see how you can build the best budget possible and help you live consistently debt-free!
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What are sinking funds?
Sinking funds are basically a way to prepay for the things that you need/want. You are planning ahead, which is one of the key budgeting skills that you need to succeed with your personal finances!
For example, you know that you’re going to buy Easter baskets & candy for your kiddos. You can use money from your regular weekly grocery budget, but you know it’s pretty tight already. Or you can save $5 every month for it and set it aside.
Hmmm…. setting aside $5 a month sounds doable, so you set up an Easter sinking fun. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!
Why do people use sinking funds?
Effectively using sinking funds keep you out of debt; that’s the main reason people use them, and it’s a dang good reason! You know that you will need new tires for your car at some point, and then again in a few years. There’s no reason you should go into debt just because you didn’t plan ahead. That’s silly!
Don’t be silly!
Sinking funds also give you something to look forward to! Hello Bora Bora vacation! Yes, it may take you years to save, but each and every month you put $50 into that account it gets closer and closer! You are moving forward on your dreams & goals, and that feeling is hard to beat!
Where do you keep your sinking fund money?
Depending on the fund, you can keep it in one of two places. In a bank account or in a cash envelope. The main thing that you MUST DO is keep it separated from your general money!
I’d like to think that I’m pretty smart that I keep track of everything! But it’s not true. I forget things, sometimes I confuse myself, and sometimes I am just plain dumb (hello math errors)! I know this, and I accept it. How many times have you accidentally spent the water bill money on a dollar spot binge at Target? Uh-huh, it happens to all of us 🙂
So I separate my money and label things accordingly so that there is no confusion about what the money is for. I use checking accounts for my permanent sinking funds, and for one-off sinking funds, I use cash envelopes. They work so well that I have a bunch of different styles for whatever you need, just print, cut, and tape and you’re all set to save money!
Sinking Funds Examples
Long term sinking funds examples include…
- home repair
- car repair
- vacation & travel
- kiddo fund
Short term sinking funds include…
- day spa afternoon
- Valentine’s date night dinner
- Peloton bike
Sinking funds can also be revolving, or they can be a one and done. For example, a holiday type sinking fund is a one & done (although you may do it every year). Once you spend the money on Halloween candy & costumes, it’s done.
But a revolving sinking fund could be a home repair sinking fund. Money flows in and out of it every month, the account never gets “full,” and it never gets empty (hopefully).
Let’s say each month you put $40 in the home repair fund, then in February you need a new dishwasher, out goes $400. Then in March, you need paint to go over all the scuffed up baseboards in the house, so out comes $40 on paint & brushes.
28 sinking funds categories
Now that you have the gist of what sinking funds are and why they’re so important, you can start brainstorming your own. Here is a list of some of the most common sinking funds categories.
Sinking Funds categories for the home
- home repairs
- home remodels
- new furniture
- new landscaping
- pet care
Sinking Funds for the family
- new family car
- vacations
- backyard plusing – pool, swing set, patio set, etc
- entertainment – festivals, day trips, gaming system, etc
- annual & monthly memberships – zoo, gardens, aquarium, etc.
Sinking funds for your kids
- camps & lessons – sports, hobby, etc
- hobby stuff
- new school clothes
- birthday party & presents
- school activities
Sinking Funds for you
- new wardrobe
- membership & clubs
- lessons
- self-care – day spa, therapy, nails, etc
- hobby supplies
- date night with sweetie pie 🙂
Holiday sinking funds categories
- New Year’s Eve party
- Valentine’s Day date/candy/present
- Easter outfit, basket, and candy
- Memorial Day & Labor Day weekend BBQs
- 4th of July picnic & fireworks
- Halloween costumes and candy
- Thanksgiving dinner
- Christmas – presents, food, family fun, events
You might think that these categories are similar to budget categories and there is some overlap. Yet, monthly budgets are for what you’re spending right now while sinking funds are for future spending. It’s a subtle distinction but an important one.
Sinking Funds are usually for more discretionary spending, something where you’re not sure how much (i.e., new school clothes) or exactly when (i.e., car repair). But you know, at some point, you’re going to need money for this general “thing.”
The problem with sinking funds
Firstly, if you haven’t guessed, I LOVE sinking funds! They have made my debt-free life possible! But there can be too much of a good thing. As with everything in life, moderation is key.
Sometimes people get so excited about sinking funds that they set up 57 different cash envelopes, each for a small tiny thing. That’s too complicated; you don’t need a separate fund for “vacation transportation,” and for “vacation tickets,” “vacation food.” Just a general “vacation” sinking fund will do.
When you have too many sinking funds, you are spreading your money out pretty thin, so it will take you longer to reach your goals. Sometimes you need to space out your savings. For example, in January, you start a Valentine’s Day fund, and then once that holiday is over, you can start saving for summer vacations, and then when that has happened, you can save for Halloween stuff. It’s all about strategy!
Resources for setting up your sinking funds
In essence, all you need to start using sinking funds is paper, a pencil, and some money. But some things can make it a lot easier (and faster) to get up and running. I made my Sinking Funds Simplified workbook for exactly this reason. It walks you through the entire process from start to finish!
The workbook includes…
- guide on how to review last year’s spending to plan ahead for this year
- year at a glance guide
- sinking fund brainstorm session
- sinking fund tracker and more!
At the end of the day
Using sinking funds is a fantastic way to step up your budgeting game! You know you’re going to spend money on this general “thing,” so planning for it and saving for it now spreads the cost out and makes it much more manageable.
I mean, would you rather save $10 every month for something or get faced with an unexpected $120 bill for something? $10 is a lot easier to fit into your budget, and that’s why sinking funds keep us debt-free and working towards our big goals!
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Source: moneyforthemamas.com