Spend: Knowing your spending habits

Knowing how you spend your money is vital to your financial success.

Watch our workshop on Planning Your Spending

Practice the sufficiency mentality

This will help you focus on being a wise steward of what you do have rather than worrying about what you don’t as you track and plan your spending.

Establish a spending plan

Use the percentages in the pie chart as general spending guidelines as you build your budget.

Choose a tracking tool

Here are several options to consider:

• https://www.youneedabudget.com/
• http://www.mint.com
• http://www.mvelopes.com
• http://www.everydollar.com
• Microsoft Excel or another spreadsheet program
• Any other method that’s convenient for you

Track your expenses

Based on what you learn, make a spending plan and put it into action. In addition to continuing daily expense tracking, do the following:

• Every week take 15-20 minutes and reconcile your spending from the previous week. If applicable, include your spouse. Then plan your spending for the coming week.
• Every pay period, review your income versus expenses. Then plan for the next pay period. If applicable, include your spouse.

Resources

• Request a consultation with a financial planner
• Core Principles Checklist - a form for you to keep track of your progress though the principles
• Core Financial Principles Booklet - a workbook to help understand the principles
• Suggested Websites and Readings.