They Make $260K a Year — So Why Were They Still Stressed About Money? (The Budget That Changed Everything)

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Meet the Millers.

Chris and Jen Miller are in their early 40s, live in the suburbs, have two busy kids, and together pull in $260,000 a year. On paper, they’re doing great.

But here’s the kicker: despite their solid income, they were feeling the monthly money squeeze. Random Amazon purchases. “Just one more” Target run. Surprise sports fees. A big income with a blurry plan.

“We make good money — but where is it all going?”

That was the question that finally pushed the Millers to try zero-based budgeting (ZBB) — a strategy where every single dollar gets a job before the month even begins.

💡 What Is Zero-Based Budgeting, Anyway?

Zero-based budgeting means you don’t just guess at your spending. You start every month at zero, and give every dollar a purpose — bills, groceries, saving, investing, even fun money.

By the end of your budget, your income minus expenses equals zero.

Not because you spent it all — but because everything has a destination.

📊 The Miller Family’s Money Snapshot

• Combined Income: $260,000/year

• Monthly Take-Home Pay (after taxes, benefits, 401k): ~$15,000

• Kids: Two (hockey and dance… so, you know — $$$)

• Goals:
  

  • Pay off the mortgage early

  • Build up college funds

  • Actually know where their money’s going

🧾 Here’s Their Real-Life Zero-Based Budget

After sitting down with a spreadsheet (and maybe a glass of wine), here’s how the Millers broke down their $15,000 monthly income:

💼 Fixed Expenses – $8,000/month

These are the bills that hit like clockwork:

• Mortgage: $3,000

• Utilities: $500

• Property taxes: $1,000

• Car payments: $800

• Insurance: $700

• Childcare/school tuition: $1,200

• Phones, internet, streaming: $800

📈 Financial Goals – $3,500/montg

This is the “wealth builder” bucket:

• Emergency fund: $500

• Roth IRAs: $1,000

• Taxable brokerage investing: $1,000

• College 529 plans: $500

• Extra mortgage principal: $500

🛒 Variable Expenses – $2,000/month

They used averages from the last 3 months to estimate:

• Groceries: $1,200

• Gas: $400

• Health/personal care: $200

• Pet care: $200

🎉 Fun & Discretionary – $1,000/month

Because life isn’t meant to be all rice and beans.

• Date nights: $250

• Travel fund: $500

• Family fun/misc: $250

🧒 Kids & Family Life – $500/month

Because extracurriculars have “extra” right in the name:

• Hockey and dance fees, gear, and extras

💝 Giving – $0 to $500/month

They adjust this based on the season:

• Church or charitable giving

Total: $15,000/month = Every dollar accounted for.

🔁 How They Keep It Going

The Millers learned that budgeting isn’t a one-time setup. It’s a weekly rhythm:

• They do a 15-minute “Money Huddle” every Sunday night

• Use Monarch to track spending in real time- GET 50% OFF FOR THE FIRST YEAR with MONARCH

• Reconcile the budget at the end of the month — and roll leftover dollars into their next goal

🧠 3 Takeaways from the Miller Family’s ZBB Journey

1. More income doesn’t equal more control
   Without a plan, even six-figure families can feel broke.

2. Zero-based budgeting doesn’t mean no fun
   It just means you plan for the fun — instead of regretting it later.

3. Every dollar is a decision
   The Millers went from “Where did it all go?” to “We’re telling our money where to go.”

💬 Final Thoughts: Want to Be Like the Millers?

Zero-based budgeting isn’t about restriction — it’s about clarity, control, and confidence.

If you’re ready to stop letting money slip through the cracks and start building a life of intention, I’ve got you:

✅ Need a custom zero-based budget template?

✅ Want to create a “Money Huddle” routine with your partner?

✅ Curious how to align your budget with your big goals?

Let’s talk. I help families like the Millers take control of their cash flow and build lasting wealth — one dollar at a time.

💬 Ready to give your money a job? Let’s build your budget together.

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