How I Budget

It ain't always a success, and often I spend more than I should

How to Build a Life is a newsletter for people bang in the thick of life’s mess and mayhem, who are still trying to find the magic. It’s written by me, Laura Jane Williams, author of 12 (!) books. I’m almost 40, a solo parent by choice, decorate my house like a tart’s boudoir, and lift very heavy weights. Those four things are my entire personality.

My latest rom-com is Enemies to Lovers, and I am the author of teen series Taylor Blake is a Legend too.

me, budgeting. please note the smile fades over the month

You can’t unpick How to Build a Life without talking about money, and you can’t talk about money without talking about budgeting. So here we are - this is me and my moolah.

Real talk?

For years I was horrible with money. We’re talking £6,000 credit card debt, a £1,500 loan, no savings, and perpetual hand-to-mouth living. Some call that being 22, and intellectually I know figuring out money is all part of growing up… but it still haunts me. I think my spirit, my psyche, on some level believes there’s morality attached to money. That being “good” or “bad” with money means being a “good” or “bad” person. Having once been “bad” with money I have internalised that on some level I will always be “bad” with money, and so I will always be a less worthy person.

Money is a crazy loaded subject, don’t you think?

Making money has never been an issue for me. I’ve never been work-shy. I’ve had a job since I was 14. I have often had multiple jobs. At university I worked as a note-taker, toy shop supervisor, and library assistant, and even now, at 38, I write multiple books a year because I can’t afford not to.

But! Would I have to earn as much if I didn’t spend as much? I hate that the answer is probably no. I’m guilty of having champagne tastes and a more lemonade budget.

Other things to acknowledge about my finances? A list:

• I always feel like a piece of shit by the fourth week of the month, when I’ve overspent and have to move cash around to make it work