Where is your log book?
The very first thing you need to do is maintain a spending log. You need to see where all of your money is going before you try to spend less. You have to know where you are in order to get where you want to go.
There are many places on the Internet that allow you to download pre-built spending logs. Here are some of the ones that I found to be useful:
- This is a simple log that allows you to get a view of where the money is going. Since the log is so simple, the view you will get will be on the macro level. Some of the other logs listed here will allow you to see, on a micro level, where the money is going.
- This one is pretty interesting. It is broken up into 2 sections of 10 days and 1 section of 11 days. Each section lists several common categories and they have left room for additional categories. An example worksheet and instructions are also included. This should be enough for just about anyone to be able to see where there money is going.
- Coming online soon is a site that may be able to help. www.spendinglog.com will be available soon. This site will allow you to set a budget, keep track of expenditures for the life of the account, put in what you’ve spent, from anywhere in the world, and more… You can even set up emails to be sent to your friends upon each expenditure you make over your limit…which should keep you honest.
Pick a log and stick with it. Once you see where your money has been going, you’ll find that you will soon be spending less.
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© Copyright 2009, John A. Simpson. All Rights Reserved.
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