Zero-based budgeting is how you get intentional with your money. All of it. Anything that’s “extra” after you list out your expenses doesn’t stay extra. It’s given a purpose and a job—put into a budget line so it doesn’t get spent accidentally.

Remember, you work hard for your money. It should work hard for you. Every. Single. Dollar. That’s the power of the zero-based budget!

Have you ever made a goal that was totally setting you up for failure? Like saying you’ll read ten books a month when you barely have any free time? If you want to succeed, you have to push yourself—but you also have to be realistic.

The same is true with your budget. Push yourself to spend better and save more—but be realistic with your life as well. When you keep it real, you can really win.

You may want to break some of your budget lines into weekly portions to help you spread out your spending. This is super helpful if you get paid twice a month or more—but it’s a great trick for any budgeter.

For example, if you give yourself $200 for personal spending, think of it as $50 a week. If you put $600 in your grocery budget, that’s like spending about $150 a week.

Sometimes thinking in these bite-sized amounts makes it easier to stick to your budget.

We mentioned this before, but you need a little space for anything that pops up or you forget (like school photos or your anniversary—wait, don’t forget that!). A miscellaneous budget line helps you cover these expenses without busting your budget or running to the credit card. Speaking of which . . .

We’ve got about a million reasons (at least) to stop using your credit cards, but here are just two:

First, if you’re using credit cards to cash flow your spending—using them to pay for normal monthly expenses and making a bulk payment at the end of the month—that’s a bad money management system. 

Paying that lump sum means you don’t see just how often you buy breakfast biscuits on the way to work. What if you’re literally eating away at what could be a healthy retirement fund? When you track every expense, your expenses can’t hide from you.

Second, if you’re getting behind on payments, you’re racking up interest. (Our research shows four out of 10 credit card holders fall in this category, by the way.) And you’re getting stuck in the cycle of paying off last month’s expenses this month.

You can never get ahead that way. Budget this month’s money to pay for this month’s expenses. That’s how you stay in control of your own money.

The decisions you made yesterday don’t have to determine today. When you make mistakes with your money (and you will—everyone does) don’t throw a pity party. Keep. Moving. Forward.

Don’t worry about what everyone on social media appears to have. Some of them are lying. Some are in debt up to their designer sunglasses. And a few really do have their lives together.

But those people worked hard for it—and that’s what you’re going to do too.

Work hard defending your budget—saying no or not now when you need to—because being true to yourself, your budget and your money goals is more valuable than anything you could ever buy.

Remember, it usually takes three months to get a handle on this whole budgeting thing. It won’t be perfect the first time or the second. But you’ll get there! Give yourself grace as you go.

Hey. Budgeting isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon, a commitment, a lifestyle! Keep all these tips for staying motivated in your back pocket and pull them out whenever things get hard.

And when it does get tough, remember: You. Are. Tougher.