[Don’t be a hot mess in 2018! Get your shit together with this week’s special feature, the “Get Your Shit Together Issue!” We think this story will help….—eds.]
Need to get your financial act together? The first thing to do is take stock of where you are. People who are financial messes generally aren’t tracking their expenses and only have a vague idea that there’s too much “month” at the end of their “money.” I hate to break it to you, but you’re not going to feel confident about your money by ignoring it. (I’ve seen many people attempt this plan—it never works.)
1. Track what you spend for a week.
Get a sheet of paper and write “spending tracker” on the top. Now, carry this around for a week in your wallet and write down every single thing you spend. I don’t want you to edit or change how you spend—just track it. (It may be harder than you expect.) I know you’d rather download an app, but I recommend putting it on paper first—even if you feel silly doing it at the coffee shop. If people judge you, you can smugly congratulate yourself on how you’re getting your life together. Even if you hate this exercise, remember: it’s just for a week.
2. Make a mini-budget.
At the end of the week, set aside a quiet hour when you can relax with a nice beverage (financial management goes better with a warm drink in hand) and block out all the exciting parts of the internet. Don’t try to do this while watching small children or the latest episode of Broad City. Actually concentrate.