Unfortunately, my thought goes WAY back -- to the late 1980s? I was a couple years out of college in a steady job with steady, mostly predictable income, and I was spending freely. I came across a show on the radio, How to Manage Your Money with Larry Burkett that literally changed my life. I soon understood that I would be better off if I knew where I was spending my money so I could be intentional about future spending. I went back to my checkbook and laboriously wrote down all of my spending for the prior six months. As a single guy, I discovered I was spending $300 each month (in 1980s dollars, mind you) that I could not account for. I began tracking spending on columnar paper, then was later thrilled to be able to use spreadsheet software in the 90's. When Quicken came along, I thought it could not get any better, but they and their product lost their way after 15 years, so I found my way to YNAB.
Having money available for a need is freeing from anxiety. Getting to that place can be a marathon, but ever 26.2 miles is attainable over time, one step at a time.
Proud to say that for the first time, I just paid my $260 accountant bill with money siphoned off month by month!
Unfortunately, my thought goes WAY back -- to the late 1980s? I was a couple years out of college in a steady job with steady, mostly predictable income, and I was spending freely. I came across a show on the radio, How to Manage Your Money with Larry Burkett that literally changed my life. I soon understood that I would be better off if I knew where I was spending my money so I could be intentional about future spending. I went back to my checkbook and laboriously wrote down all of my spending for the prior six months. As a single guy, I discovered I was spending $300 each month (in 1980s dollars, mind you) that I could not account for. I began tracking spending on columnar paper, then was later thrilled to be able to use spreadsheet software in the 90's. When Quicken came along, I thought it could not get any better, but they and their product lost their way after 15 years, so I found my way to YNAB.
Having money available for a need is freeing from anxiety. Getting to that place can be a marathon, but ever 26.2 miles is attainable over time, one step at a time.