This is how I make my finances feel a little less scary.

I have an appointment every Monday, first thing in the morning. I sit down with my coffee, open my laptop and prepare to get serious.

It’s an appointment with my bank account.

Can I tell you a secret? I used to be that person that rarely took a deep dive into my finances. It was for many reasons–I didn’t want to face the cost of living, I didn’t have the emotional bandwidth, I didn’t want to have to make hard choices, I felt guilty about my spending…the list goes on and on. But, you can only ignore things for so long before they catch up with you (often in big scary ways). I had to develop some healthier financial habits, so I started scheduling time to evaluate my situation.

It feels big at first; coming to terms with your income boundaries and putting some self-imposed rules in place and that’s because it is. Taking a close look at your debt and savings can make you feel like you are failing. But I encourage you to keep pushing past that, because putting your head in the sand only makes things worse. Scheduling regular times to check your budget and make adjustments actually gives you peace of mind, because dreading the worst is so much scarier than knowing the reality and being proactive.

Pick a regular time you are going to face the music, and stick to it

Start simply: nail down exactly what your bills are and what your debt is

Make small changes: Cut out stuff you aren’t really using or things you are buying out of habit, guilt, obligation or impulsivity

Figure out what your goals are. Pay down debt, build savings, travel more, etc

Once you get all that in order, you can tighten up a real, grown up budget.

Maintaining your financial health is so much easier than repairing the damage done by avoidance. It’s not punishment, it’s an investment in your financial well-being.

Do you need an accountability partner to get your personal or business finances in order? Want to see how we can help you reach your goals? Are you already a client and want to check in? linktr.ee/missoulabookkeeper