How to plan your monthly budget, from salary to salary
Start from what really comes in each month, take out the fixed bills first (rent, Sonelgaz, water, phone and internet), set aside your savings, then give each everyday category a limit. Note every expense for a few weeks to check the plan against real life, and adjust. Jibi does the sums for you, in dinars.
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Step by step
- Write down what comes in: salary, freelance work, a pension or help from family. Count what you actually receive, not what you hope for.
- List the fixed bills: rent, Sonelgaz, water, Algérie Télécom or your mobile plan, transport, and the installments you’re paying back.
- Pay yourself first: decide how much goes to savings this month, even a little, and put it aside on salary day.
- Share out the rest between everyday categories: groceries, transport, café and restaurants, health, family.
- Note every expense for a few weeks. Cash goes the fastest: note it too.
- At the end of the month, compare and adjust the limits. A budget that looks like your life is one you’ll keep.
A simple split to start with
If you don’t know where to start, split your income into three parts, then adjust to your situation. When rent alone takes half the salary, needs will be more than half, and that’s normal: the point is to decide, not to fit a formula.
| Part | Share | What goes in it |
|---|---|---|
| Needs | about 50% | Rent, bills, groceries, transport, health |
| Wants | about 30% | Café and restaurants, clothes, outings, holidays |
| Savings and debts | about 20% | Savings goals, paying back loans and installments |
With 60 000 DA a month, that makes about 30 000 DA for needs, 18 000 DA for wants and 12 000 DA for savings and debts.
Plan for the big months
Some months cost far more than others: Ramadan, Aïd el-Kebir and its sheep, the rentrée and school supplies, summer holidays, weddings. Spread them over the year: divide what you expect to spend by the months left, and put that aside every month as a savings goal.
For example, Aïd in six months and 90 000 DA planned: put aside 15 000 DA a month.
Doing it with Jibi
- Your wallets (cash, Edahabia, CIB) keep their balances up to date with each expense you note.
- Set a monthly budget and a limit per category; Jibi warns you when a category gets close to its limit.
- Salary, rent and subscriptions can be added by themselves every month.
- Savings goals fill up as you put money aside, each with its target month.
- Statistics show which days and categories cost the most.
Questions about budgets
How much should I save each month?
Whatever you can keep up. About a fifth of your income is a common target, but a small amount every month is better than a big amount once. Start small and raise it when a limit turns out to be too generous.
My income changes every month. How do I budget?
Base the budget on a lean month, not a good one. In good months, put the difference aside: it carries you through the lean ones.
What about cash I don’t remember spending?
Count your cash at the end of the week and compare it with Jibi. If something is missing, add an expense for the difference (or correct the balance). After a few weeks, you’ll note it as it happens.