Questions About Budgeting? Let's Talk
Look, we get questions all the time about budgeting basics. And honestly? That's a good thing. People who ask questions tend to figure things out faster. We've gathered the most common ones here—but if yours isn't listed, just reach out. We're pretty quick to respond.
Who Answers Your Questions
Marcus Whitfield
Budget Strategy LeadSpent twelve years working with families in Bangkok who needed practical money solutions—not theory. Marcus focuses on real-world scenarios because textbook advice rarely matches what actually happens with your paycheck.
Elena Horvath
Financial Education SpecialistElena started teaching budgeting workshops in 2018 after realizing most people don't need complicated spreadsheets—they need clarity. She breaks down money management into steps that make sense for busy lives.
Our team has backgrounds in both finance and education. We've worked with over 300 individuals and families across Thailand since 2019, helping people understand their money without the jargon. Most questions get answered within the same business day.
Common Budget Questions
These come up in nearly every conversation we have. Click any question to see the full answer—or contact us if you need more detail.
How much should I actually save each month?
There's no magic number that works for everyone. Start with what you can consistently manage—even if it's just 5% of your income. We've seen people build solid emergency funds starting with 2,000 baht per month.
What matters more than the amount is the habit. Once you're saving regularly for three months, you can think about increasing it. For detailed strategies based on different income levels, check our learning program.
What's the difference between essential and non-essential spending?
Essential spending covers what you need to function: housing, food, utilities, transportation to work, basic healthcare. Non-essential is everything else—streaming services, dining out, hobbies.
The tricky part? Some things blur the lines. Internet might be essential if you work from home. A gym membership might be essential for your health. We help you figure out your specific categories during consultations.
Should I focus on paying debt or building savings first?
Usually both, but in different proportions. Build a small emergency buffer first—maybe 10,000 to 20,000 baht. This prevents you from going deeper into debt when unexpected costs hit.
Then attack high-interest debt aggressively while maintaining that emergency fund. Credit card interest in Thailand can run 15-18% annually, so that's expensive money to keep borrowing. Want specific numbers for your situation? We can walk through that together.
How do I handle irregular income when budgeting?
This is trickier but definitely manageable. Start by calculating your average monthly income over the past six months. That becomes your baseline budget number—spend as if you earn this amount every month.
In months when you earn more, the excess goes to savings or debt. In slower months, you pull from that buffer. It requires more discipline, but freelancers and commission-based workers use this approach successfully all the time.
What budgeting method actually works long-term?
The one you'll stick with. Seriously—there's no universal "best" method. Some people love detailed spreadsheets. Others do fine with a simple notebook or budgeting app.
Most of our clients find success with either the 50/30/20 framework (50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings) or zero-based budgeting where every baht has a job. Try one for two months, then adjust. More methods explained in our program materials.
How often should I review and adjust my budget?
Check your spending weekly when you're starting out—just a quick five-minute review to catch problems early. Do a deeper analysis monthly to see patterns and make adjustments.
Big life changes (new job, moving, having kids) require immediate budget overhauls. And at least twice a year, review your whole financial picture to make sure your budget still aligns with your goals.
Real Budget Transformations
We tracked a family in Nakhon Ratchasima through their first year of serious budgeting. Started in February 2024 with 45,000 baht monthly income, zero savings, and about 28,000 baht in credit card debt. By December 2024, they'd built a 60,000 baht emergency fund and cleared the debt.
- They cut dining-out spending by 40% without feeling deprived—just became more intentional about which meals mattered
- Discovered 6,200 baht monthly in subscriptions and recurring charges they'd forgotten about
- Used cash envelopes for variable categories, which sounds old-school but worked better than apps for them
- Hit their stride after month four—first three months had setbacks and adjustments
- Key insight: tracking spending before changing behavior revealed patterns they didn't know existed