It can be challenging to remain with the process of tracking your finances initially because it can be chaotic. However, it pays off in the long run. You would learn along the way and become a pro better than you ever imagined. Earning money can be a long process; therefore, you need to avoid overspending and prevent living paycheck to paycheck.
At the outset, do not be concerned with perfection. Don’t worry about being flawless. Trust the process, and be willing to learn as you go. Keeping track of your expenses helps you reach those goals you have set for yourself. It also lets you know how you’re doing over time and where you need a quick fix. It would help if you imbibed the culture of tracking your expenses to manage them effectively.
You have most likely thought to yourself, how could I be more intentional about my finances. This may be because you have defeated all the failed attempts you have made towards budgeting and given every cash available a job and easily track your spending and manage your funds effectively. Remember, your financial decisions say a lot about you. It is a good time to learn these simple steps to elevate your finance game.
- Change your behaviour towards money; If you are reading this article, you must identify a few negative habits towards cash that you must change. Identify first and eliminate to ensure you can have control of your finances. E.g., one of those could be spending the money even before you get it; this could be by buying goods on credit and paying once the funds come in. You cannot have this type of behaviour towards money and control your finances effectively.
- Pen down every purchase made or bill paid for, including existing credit. You will need a pen and a notepad here. Write down every expense paid for and all purchases made. You can do this daily to ensure consistency and eliminate mistakes. You need to set a specific time to enter all your transactions and stick with it until it becomes a habit.
- Ensure to keep receipts and put them together: Get all of them and keep them together in an envelope. They would be helpful later when the calculation is to be done.
- Put down transactions made with your credit card; this is also essential for tracking your budget. You can ensure this by checking your banking app for recent transactions or getting your hands on your account statement. There you go.
At this point, you already know all and what you spend money on; adopt the use of a budget tracker now you can allocate funds correctly and effectively. You might not be a pro at first, but you leave the clueless spenders’ stage with these steps. If you have a steady income, you will have money left for different necessities. Avoid living on borrowed money because of mismanaged funds, and learn the habit of tracking all of your expenses.
