How To Build A Budgeting Habit: A Guide For Coaches

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You’re landing clients, money’s coming in…

So why does your bank account still feel like it’s on life support?

If you’re not tracking where your money’s going, it’s way too easy to overspend, under-save, and end up stressed every time the rent or mortage is due. You’re working hard—but without a system in place, you’re flying blind.

Whether you’re new to coaching or fully booked, you need a simple way to manage your money so you can make confident decisions about your life and business. Not just hope it all works out.

It’s systems like these that I teach to coaches inside my certification program—so they can stop the money leaks and start building real stability.

Ready to feel in control? Let’s get into it 👇

Why Is It Crucial For Coaches To Have a Budgeting Habit?

Knowing how much money you actually earn—and how much you spend—is the foundation of long-term sustainability in coaching.

A habit of monthly budgeting gives you the information you need to make smarter decisions like:

• Are you charging enough?

• Can you afford to invest in training?

• Is it time to cut back on personal expenses or double down on a new offer?

Budgeting helps you build wealth, plan for big life events, and feel confident that your business is truly working for you.

Plus, you can teach it back to your students who want to build life skills.

Why Do Many Coaches Struggle With Budgeting?

Reason 1: They were never taught how to budget

Budgeting sounds scary and confusing to many people.

It wasn't until my mid to late twenties that I got into it.

Most of us were thrown into adult life with nothing but vague advice like “stop buying coffee” and “use a spreadsheet.”

But that's not helpful advice if you don’t know where to start.

Reason 2: They assume budgeting should come naturally

Many coaches are great at helping students organize tasks and manage their schedules, but they never apply those same EF principles to their own money.

They assume it should just click.

But really, it’s a learned skill.

Reason 3: They rely on apps without building habits

Apps like Mint and Rocket Money are great.

But they won’t teach you to reflect on your spending or help you learn from your spending behavior.

But you have to come up with your own system that works for you.

5 Steps To Build a Budgeting Habit as a Coach

Step 1: Use a spreadsheet to reflect on previous months

A great way to review everything you spent in the past month is to use a spreadsheet.

My CEO Dashboard includes a budgeting tab that’s already set up with categories for you. Click here to open and edit this budgeting tool.

Budgeting tab on my CEO dashboard spreadsheet.

On this tool, you want to look back on the previous month.

For example, if it's February 1st, then look back on the month of January.

Follow the following steps to effectively use the budgeting tool:

Step 1: Log into your bank and credit card accounts. Look at every transaction from the past month.

Step 2: Enter every dollar you spent into the appropriate category.

Step 3: Group similar expenses together.

For example, if you had three dinners out, add them together using a simple formula like =(25+17+38) and enter that total in the “eating out” category.

Step 4: Once all your expenses are entered and categorized, go back and enter all the income you received that month.

The spreadsheet will automatically total your income and expenses so you can see clearly: did you make more than you spent?

Step 2: Compare expenses to income

This is where clarity starts to come in.

Highlight anything in red that feels out of alignment or needs adjusting next month.

Ask yourself, “Are there any areas of this budget that I have control over?”

For example, certain things are fixed expenses like insurance, car payment, or phone bill.

But some things are variable expenses, meaning you could control them.

This might be things like eating out or money spent on entertainment.

What can you set a limit on for the next month?

What I do is I highlight any areas in a light red color where that's something I can make a difference in or change for the next month.

Step 3: Repeat the process monthly

You can duplicate the tab in the spreadsheet and then repeat this process each month for the year.

By the end, you'll have a whole year's worth of behavioral data on how you’re spending your money.

Just by filling out this spreadsheet once, you'll start to make better decisions with your money because you'll become more conscious of it.

The ultimate goal is to make more than you spend and eventually save money towards things that you want to create in your life, like buying a home.

Step 4: Create simple rules for tracking finances

Decide on simple rules that help you stay consistent without overthinking it.

Some rules that I make for myself are:

• Only count credit card purchases from the 1st to the last day of the month, even if the billing cycle differs.

• Only record the credit card expense, never the expense that shows on the other card that covers this credit card expense. In other words, don't record it twice.

Step 5: Budget with your partner if applicable

If you share finances with a partner, doing this together can strengthen your relationship and financial clarity.

My wife and I sit down monthly to review our spending, and it’s been a game-changer.

The Bottom Line

Creating a budgeting habit is essential for your business and in your life.

Here's a recap of building this for yourself:

1. Review your previous month’s expenses with a spreadsheet

2. Compare income to spending and highlight categories to improve

3. Focus on one change at a time in a variable category

4. Repeat this process monthly to build financial awareness

5. Create your own simple budgeting rules and stick to them

Hope this helps! 🤙🏻

Want support in building a budgeting habit?

Consider joining hundreds of educators and professionals who have completed our executive function coaching certification.

You'll gain all the tools, templates, and techniques you'll need as a coach, plus you'll make new friends and have a community you can rely on to grow and learn. Learn more.

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About Me

Hey! I'm Sean 👋

I'm a former public school special education teacher who realized that executive function skills are more important than knowing when George Washington crossed the Potomac.

Since then, I've made it my mission to teach anyone who will listen about how to develop these key life skills.

In 2020, I founded Executive Function Specialists to ensure all students with ADHD and Autism have access to high-quality online executive function coaching services. We offer online EF coaching and courses to help students and families.

Realizing I could only reach so many people through coaching, in 2021 I started the Executive Function Coaching Academy which trains schools, educators, and individuals to learn the key strategies to improve executive function skills for students.

In 2023, I co-founded of UpSkill Specialists, to provide neurodivergent adults with high-quality executive function coaching services.

When not pursuing my passions through work, I love spending time with my family, getting exercise, and expanding my brain through reading. You can connect with me on LinkedIn.