As we've been able to observe, many of the changes Tom made are very practical. He didn't have to drastically alter his lifestyle in developing his adjusted budget, and, as you can see, the quality of his life has the potential to be a lot better. His expenses now total $2,644.50, and for the first time he's able to put money into savings.
This means that Tom now has $355.50 in monthly discretionary income, which he can use to catch up to where he should be in savings, or apply toward his debt payments to save in long-term interest costs. He can even treat himself, occasionally, for making the kind of choices that will help ensure a healthier financial future.
As we mentioned in the beginning, budgeting is not a form of punishment. It is a tool that ordinary people can use to preserve their opportunities to enjoy life by gaining control over their spending. These are exactly the kinds of options you want to create for yourself as you prepare your budgets.