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Creating a budget is a time-worn recommendation in the personal finance world, yet just like a diet and exercise regimen, or reading more and watching less TV, it’s among the most ignored. But the cold, hard reality is that you need a budgetary roadmap if you want your money to work for you instead of against you.

While that’s true of everyday household income and expenses, it’s even more valid when it comes to setting aside funds to put into investments. Whether you’re trying to boost your portfolio for a better lifestyle, solid retirement, or putting kids through college, you need to dedicate part of your expenditures to something more lucrative than a savings account or bank CDs.

So the question always arises: How much do you need to budget for investing? You’ll hear random statistics such as 10% of your income, but that’s really a blunt instrument figure and not that helpful. The amount you can dedicate to the market is dependent on what your goals are, and how much disposable income you can put aside after paying expenses. But here are some thoughts to get you started.

• Ask: Why do you want a budget to invest? This is highly personal, of course, but it helps to get your head around the most important factor: motivation. Perhaps you’ve got a specific goal, such as buying a car or a boat, or maybe it’s longer term, such as retirement, college, or upping your lifestyle. Being honest with yourself, and visualizing the results, are an important first step—because psychology and emotions are part of the equation.
• Assess your current state of financial affairs. What does your current spending and saving look like? Are there things you’re currently spending on that could be pared back in the interest of achieving bigger goals? Ultimately, an investing budget needs to be real—which means tracking your behaviors accurately. There are tons of apps that can help, such as Mint or Dollarbird, or you can just do it as a spreadsheet or paper notebook. Whatever you choose, do it consistently!
• Determine what it will take to get from here to there. There’s no shortage of calculators on the internet that can help you project the outcomes from saving a given amount each month or year. Depending on your goal or goals, commit to a number that you’re going to dedicate to investments.
• Automate the process. This might be the most important success factor of all: Pay yourself first. Before money from your paycheck, commission, or bonus lands in your checking account, commit to sending the appropriate portion into your brokerage account every month.