Requirement

2. Budget thirteen weeks, then live them

Required Often forgotten

The long one, and the one whose order is fixed. The budget comes before the period it budgets for.

Warning. Thirteen consecutive weeks is what decides how long this badge takes. Everything else on this page is a few evenings. Start it first and work through the rest while it runs.

What this is made of

2(a). Write a budget for thirteen consecutive weeks
2(b). Compare expected income with expected expenses
2(c). Track the same thirteen weeks as they happen
2(d). Compare the budget with what really happened

Where this step comes from

Personal Management Merit Badge Requirements (Merit Badge Hub, last modified 2025-09-19), Requirement 2

Notes and warnings

What this is made of

Where this step comes from