Kevin SimpsonCPA Web Books · Founder at CPA Web Books

Money Answers Part 4 - Q&A - How to budget #money #shorts #moneyhabits #readerquestion

24 Apr 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:59

In this short Q&A, Kevin Simpson explains why traditional budgeting methods—apps, spreadsheets, and similar tools—often fail for many people. He argues that the core issue is a mismatch between the budgeting system and an individual's natural human behavior. Simpson introduces the concept of a "behavioral intercept," which is a mechanism that works within the user's natural financial flow, specifically at the bank‑account level. He highlights two solutions, The Money Habit and Puff, which categorize money before it is spent, allowing users to see what funds are available for each purpose. The overarching advice is to stop trying to change one's innate habits and instead channel them, aligning budgeting tools with one's natural wiring to achieve desired financial outcomes.

Chapters

I've tried budgeting 10 different times— apps, spreadsheets, all that. I do well for a month and then I stop. Is that a me problem or are budgets just not realistic and long? I kind of paraphrase this because it's a long email, but the reality is that's not a you problem. If you've tried budgets, you've tried spreadsheets, you've tried apps and they're not working, it's because they're not complementing your natural human behavior. The goal is for you not to change the The goal is for you to work with who you already naturally are. That's the key. So if you're failing in an area, it's because the systems or the things you're using don't work with the natural wiring of you. I call this behavioral intercept. And yet that's the thing we interface with most. We log into our bank account. So we need something that works through our natural path. The Money Habit, Puff, first all work at your bank account level. It intercepts your path. It categorizes money before you spend it so you know what's available for what purpose. So if it's not working, it's likely because you're fighting who you are. Stop fighting who you are and channel who you are to get the outcomes you want.