Spending less and saving more is something we could all do more of this 2021.
And I’m here to make that easier for you…
Read on for your 3-step financial wellness guide as well as your free personal budget sheet (located in the first step below).
Step 1: Track Your Spending
As I spoke about in my Instagram stories, mindful spending begins with awareness.
Are you aware of where your hard-earned money is going?
The reality is, most of us are not and a couple of years ago, I was determined to find that out…
Not wanting to plunge further into debt by purchasing budgeting programs or online courses; I decided to create my own personal budget sheet instead.
And yes, this is the same one I am gifting you here:
Click here download your free 2021 Financial Wellness Budget Sheet
After two years of using this personal budget sheet, I must say it does the job for you. This method helps keeps my finances in order, it is intuitive (so I don’t need to do much math), and I love being able to refer back to it, time and time again.
Step 2: Make Budgeting a Weekly Habit
Now, this budget sheet doesn’t work for you unless you work for it too.
Which is why, you’re not going to want to procrastinate and leave budgeting up to the last minute (2 days before the month is over) to sift through all your expenses.
Instead, if you are planning to take your finances seriously in 2021, you will need to carve out time to budget every single week. And have no fear, this should take you no more than 15 minutes a week, over a glass of wine, or a cup of tea.
Pro Tip: When first downloading the spreadsheet onto your desktop, make a copy of the spreadsheet and rename it by simply adding our current month to the title’s beginning. This way, you always have a clean master sheet to start with every month.
Step 3: Remember WHY You Are Doing This
Inputting your expenses on a month-to-month basis is one thing, but remembering why you’re doing it, is what will really help you make tangible changes to your financial status.
Pro Tip: At the end of every month, casually look over your budget sheet and take in your spending habits. Then, make some goals!
In 3-6 months’ time, you will feel so much more knowledgeable about your financial status and feel much more prepared to tackle those long-term goals.
(Stay tuned for my upcoming article on how I stay on a budget, and how I get motivated by spending less…)
Just like our eating habits, it is far better to be armed with knowledge than to navigate blindly when it comes to our finances
Until then, stay organically opulent and happy budgeting!
Goldie Wollman
