What Is a Zero-Sum Budget?
At its core, a zero-sum budget means that every dollar has a job. The idea is simple: when you add up all your income for the month, and then subtract all your planned expenses, the final number should be exactly zero.
That doesn’t mean you spend every dollar—you also assign money to savings, emergency funds, or even “fun money.” The point is, nothing is left floating around unaccounted for.
Think of it like planning a family dinner: you don’t just buy food randomly at the store—you make a list and decide exactly what you need for each dish. The zero-sum budget works the same way with money.
