How to separate the game and real budget

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A conscious game does not begin with a bet, but with accounting. Your task is to create a system where the real budget (life, obligations, goals) and the game budget (bankroll) exist in different "containers," with their own rules for the movement of money. Below is a ready-made technique that can be implemented in one evening.

1) Basic separation principles

1. Inviolable circuit. Life money should not technically come into contact with the game. No "one card for everything."

2. Fixed bankroll. The game budget is a hard limit, a predetermined percentage of discretionary income (after mandatory expenses).

3. Automation> willpower. Scheduled transfers, card limits, category locks - your impulse insurance.

4. One-sided membrane. Bankroll refills are on schedule; reverse flow - only according to the "safe" rules (see section 6).

5. Transparent reporting. Weekly 10-Minute Review: Life/Play Balance, Limit Compliance, Metrics.

2) Safe bankroll formula

First, estimate the real budget for the month:

Revenue: (D)
Mandatory expenses (housing, food, transport, bills, credits, children): (O)
Reserve/targets (savings, cushion, large purchases): (R)

Discretion: (\text {Disc} = D - (O + R))

Next, set the game coefficient (k) (usually 0.1-0.3 for the responsible model).

Bankroll monthly limit:

[
B_{\text{month}} = \min\big(,k \cdot \text{Disc},; \alpha \cdot D,\big)
]

where (\alpha) is the hard "ceiling" to income (1-2%).

Spin/round rate: (0 {,} 5-2%) of the current bankroll.

💡 Example: D = 2000, O = 1300, R = 300 → Disc = 400.
At k = 0.25 and (\alpha = 0.02):
(k \cdot Disc = 100), (\alpha \cdot D = 40). We take at least → B_month = 40.

3) Invoice and Card Architecture (Five Container Schema)

1. Main account "Income" - salary/income; from where everything is distributed.

2. Account "Mandatory" - communal apartment, rent, loans (often - a separate debit card).

3. Reserve/pillow - a separate bank or savings account (goal: 3-6 months of expenses).

4. Discretion/lifestyle - eating out, movies, hobbies (but not playing).

5. Game account/card (bankroll) - a separate card/wallet: replenished only according to the schedule from "Discretion."

Important: the bank card for the game has a daily limit ≤ daily stop loss (see below) and disabled automatic saving of payment data in the browser/applications.

4) Calendar of transfers and limits (what to turn on in 10 minutes)

Auto-lists "Mandatory": on the day of salary + 3 days buffer.

Auto transfer to "Reserve/pillow": 10% + of income immediately after mandatory.

Transfer to "Discretion": weekly (Mon 09:00).

Game translation: 1 times a week with a fixed amount of ≤ (B_{\text{month}}/4).

Card limits (bankroll): daily ≤ stop loss; monthly ≤ (B_{\text{month}}).

Category blocker: prohibit "gambling," PIN off of the "responsible friend" (buddy).

5) The rules of the game for bankroll

Stop loss (day/session): 2-3% of bankroll. Reached - stop with no exceptions.

Stop wines (we fix the profit): + 5-10% of the bankroll per day → withdrawal to the "win safe" (see below).

Time limit: 25-40 min with a "reality check" every 15-20 min.

Banning dogons and chaotic upsizes. The rate is fixed (1-2% BR).

No donations from "Mandatory "/" Reserve." Source one - "Discretion."

6) Where to put the winnings: "safe" and the rule 50/30/20

Any net profit at the end of the week is divided automatically:

50% → Reserve/cushion (strengthens real budget).
30% → Goals/savings (large purchases, vacation).
20% → Bankroll increase (but not higher than yours (\alpha\cdot D); excess - back to "Targets").

This creates a one-sided membrane: from the game, money mainly flows into real life, and not vice versa.

7) Irregular income, freelance, seasonality

Use rolling 6-12 month median income as a base (D).

Take mandatory expenses at the upper limit.

Bankroll calculate quarterly, not monthly.

In months below the median - (B_{\text{month}}) automatically decreases; in peak - remains the same (surplus → in the "Reserve").

8) Cash and cryptocurrency: how not to mix

Cash: a separate envelope "Game" with a weekly limit; replenishment - only on Mondays; balance - back to "Discretion," not transferred.

Crypto: a separate wallet for bankroll; log courses and commissions; transfer to the "win safe" - to the stable coin/fiat on the same day according to the 50/30/20 rule.

9) Accounting table (structure per 1 sheet)

Columns: Date	Source	Category (Obligatory/Reserve/Discretionary/Game)	Sum	Category balance	Game session (min)	Stop loss observed (Y/N)	Session Summary (+/-)	Transfer to "safe"	Comment/emotion (before/after in 3 words)

Record weekly:

% of days with stop loss observed; average session duration; the amount leaked to the "safe"; fraction of the month without exceeding (B_{\text{month}}).

10) Frequent errors and how to close them

One card for everything. Solution: "five containers" + limits + blocker.

Carryover of bankroll balance. Solution: The rest of the week returns to "Discretion."

Replenishment after a series of losses. Solution: cool-off 72 hours + buddy-control.

"Great luck" and rising rates. Solution: stop wines + 50/30/20 + ban on changing the% rate.

Ignoring reporting. Solution: Alarm clock Sun 7pm, 10 minute review.

11) Breakdown report (keep printout)

1. Immediate cool-off for 72 hours (auto block in the office).

2. Buddy message: "Breakdown, stopped, report tomorrow at 19:00."

3. Financial verification: post-factum transfer of money from "Game" to "Reserve" according to the 50/30/20 rule (if plus) or zeroing the bankroll to the base (if minus).

4. The reason for the failure (1 paragraph) → a specific change in the system (for example, reduce (\alpha) to 1%).

12) Example on numbers (stable income)

Revenue D = 1,800; Oblige. O = 1200; Reserve R = 270 (15%) → Disc = 330.

(\alpha = 0{,}02) → (\alpha \cdot D = 36). (k=0{,}25) → (k \cdot Disc=82{,}5). We take at least → B_month = 36.

Weekly bankroll: 9; daily stop loss: 0.3; rate: 1% of the current BR (0.09 → 0.12, etc.).

Winnings for the week + 6 → in the "safe": 3/1.8/1.2.

13) Implementation checklist

5 "containers" (accounts/cards/wallets) are open.
Auto transfers (obligatory, reserve, discretionary, game) are set up.
Game card limits (day/month) are included.
"gambling" blocker installed, buddy PIN.
Prescribed stop loss/stop wine, session duration.
Accounting Table Ready, Reminder Sun 7 p.m.
Failure log printed/available.

Budget sharing is an engineering construct, not a mood. Cut off the technical bridges between life money and play, fix limits and automation, and direct the flow of winnings to the "real world" through the 50/30/20 rule. Then the game remains a leisure format, and not a threat to your financial foundation.