When it comes to budgeting, advice is everywhere: Your favorite money blog, that one TikTok finance guru, even your well-meaning cousin who swears by cash-stuffing envelopes.

But not all budgeting tips are created equal. In fact, some of the most common ones can actually hold you back, stress you out or just plain not work for your lifestyle.

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GOBankingRates spoke with Dennis Shirshikov, professor of finance at City University of New York and head of growth and engineering at GrowthLimit, to take a look at a few popular budgeting “rules” that might be worth rethinking.

“Budgeting is a key component of financial management and all advice is not created equal. Through the years, there have been a couple misguided ‘tips’ that people really ought to ignore,” Shirshikov remarked.

Below are the top ones he recommends avoiding.

And while reining in things like dining out or entertainment might sound like a quick fix, it can actually do more harm than good.

“Extreme frugality can cause people to burn out or, worse, leave their budgets all together,” said Shirshikov.

A more measured response would be to appraise discretionary spending and strike a balance — cutting out non-essentials, but still allowing for things that bring happiness and value.

After all, budgeting is not only about denying yourself pleasures; it’s about focusing your spending on your long-term goals.

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It’s well-intentioned advice that has been shared widely, but according to Shirshikov, it can be unrealistic for a lot of people, especially when you are just starting out.

Trying to save six months’ worth of living expenses might sound like a worthy ambition, but the reality is, it can take a long time to achieve.

In fact, CBS reports that most Americans can’t afford a$1,000 emergency expense.

“Instead of worrying about a certain number, I’d suggest creating a small emergency fund first, the kind that can get you through a month or two of must-haves.”

With that in hand, he said you can progress to building up your savings cushion little by little. Progress, not perfection is the key.

While it’s important to keep track of where your money is going, obsessing over every little purchase can be counterproductive and overwhelming.