A Simple Napkin Budget for Women Starting Over
A Quick Look at Common Budgeting Methods
Before we get to the basics, let's touch on a few established approaches. These can be great once you're ready to level up, but if you're fresh out of divorce chaos, they might feel too structured at first.
50/30/20 Rule: This divides your after-tax income into three buckets—50% for needs (like rent and utilities), 30% for wants (fun stuff like coffee dates), and 20% for savings or debt payoff. It's straightforward and flexible, ideal if you want balance without micromanaging every penny.
Zero-Based Budgeting: Here, every dollar of your income gets assigned a job until you hit zero. Income minus expenses equals nothing left unallocated. It's powerful for debt-heavy situations (hello, post-divorce credit cards), but it requires tracking everything closely. This is a really strict budgeting method
Envelope System: Old-school but effective—divide cash (or digital equivalents) into envelopes for categories like groceries or entertainment. Once it's empty, that's it for the month. Perfect for curbing impulse buys, especially if shopping was a stress reliever during tough times.
These methods work wonders long-term, but post-divorce? You might just need a gentle entry point to assess where you stand. Enter the " napkin and paper" budget—grab a scrap of paper, a pen, and let's start small.
Your Starter: The Napkin and Paper “Budget”
This isn't a full-blown system; it's your reality check. It's quick, low-pressure, and helps you see if you're in the black (positive) or red (negative) each month. From there, you can tweak and expand. Here's how to do it in under 10 minutes:
Jot Down Your Net Income: Start at the top with what you actually bring home each month—after taxes, deductions, and any child support or alimony. If your pay varies (freelance work), average the last three months. Example: If your paycheck says $4,000 but you pocket $3,200 post-taxes, use $3,200.
List All Your Bills: List your fixed expenses first—rent/mortgage, utilities, car payment, insurance, phone, streaming services, gym membership, etc. Don't forget divorce-related ones like legal fees or therapy copays. Be completley honest and round UP (not down) when necessary.
Add Estimates for Essentials: Ballpark variable costs. For groceries, think $300–500 for one person (depending on your area and eating habits—more on nailing grocery budgets in a future post, promise!). Include gas, toiletries, and kid stuff if applicable. Overestimate a bit to avoid surprises.
Subtract and See the Number: Total your bills, then subtract from your net income. Positive? Awesome—you've got wiggle room for savings or fun. Negative? It's a signal to cut back, negotiate bills, or boost income (side hustle alert!).
That's it! This snapshot is the beginning to your budget—it's the foundation for what is to come, actually creating your budget.
