The Benefits of Paying Attention
I have been doing some thinking lately about budgeting. I know, really exciting! Why is it that we cringe when we hear the word budget? We find a million other things to do so we "don't have time" to think about our expenses and where we are spending. While sticking to a budget is difficult, and seemingly unattainable, writing down a list of your fixed expenses can be helpful in determining exactly how much additional money you are spending each month on different things.
A few months ago I sat down and reviewed my expenses from the month before. I was appalled to find that I had spent a ridiculous amount of money eating out. I began thinking of all the things I could have bought with that money- a vacation, a new outfit, a big-screen tv, etc. It made me angry that I had not taken the time to just Pay Attention in the past. Of course, being that I analyze everything, I started to think about all the money I wasted the year before and vowed that I would not eat out ever again!. Of course, that was not realistic. Why? Because no one can quit a spending habit cold turkey! While I still eat out on occasion, reviewing just how much I had been spending has made me more conscious of how often I eat out and how much I spend each time. Although I don't have a written budget in place, I have an idea in my head of how much I don't want to be spending. For me, this is what is more realistic than trying to stick to a strict budget.
We have all heard before that if you write something down, you are more likely to remember it. This is certainly the case with writing down my monthly spending pattern.
As a resource, I have put together an easy to complete budgeting worksheet. Whether you decide to stick to a strict budget, or simply gain awareness of where your money is going, you should find this worksheet helpful.
