It’s the end of the month, and you get giddy and fidgety because you know it’s your payday. That vacuum cleaner you’ve been eyeing these past few days can now be added to your cart and be purchased. Then, you did groceries and paid the bills.
The next week, you took your family to the park. You have sent some money to your kid who’s in college. A week after that, you held a barbeque party with your neighbors. A day or two later, you noticed that you were running low on pet food, so you went to the store and decided to grab some donuts.
Unfortunately, you had car troubles and had to call someone to fix it for you. The next day, your boss announced that the company was raising funds for an orphanage and is encouraging everyone to donate. Then, the next thing you knew, you’re searching for money in your week old worn jeans for the pizza delivery. You realize that you’re short in cash, and you still have five days before the end of the month.
If this is you, then you should seriously consider tracking your expenses. The goal is to save, not overspend. As such, aside from this, there are also other reasons why you should keep tabs with how you deal with your finances. Check them out below!
Financial Awareness
Tracking your expenses gives you a clearer picture of where you stand with your finances. Knowing where your money goes and how much you spend (overspend) gives you the ability to budget according to your income.
You’d be surprised at how much you spend. Your daily spending may not cost too much, but when it becomes a week’s worth, you’d probably ask why you are losing a significant amount of money.
Creating a budget planner, you can categorize your expenses and rank them according to your needs and wants. By then, you’ll see how much money is spent on necessities and how much is for the luxuries.
Fend off Unknown and Unauthorized Charges
Without keeping up with your expenditures, you probably won’t notice unauthorized fees being charged to your account. Especially when you buy online, other kinds of hidden charges may just pop up, and you’d wonder why the purchased item was more expensive than you bargained for. So, make it a habit to check your bank account and ask someone for assistance if you find questionable charges and deductions.
Helps Save Money (Avoiding debt too!)
Keeping an account of your expenses is basically a life hack. Once you organize your planner, at that time, you can create a desired monthly budget, which can help you save money by cutting unnecessary costs.
You’ll be less inclined to impulsively buy stuff on the internet since buying non-essential stuff is a big no-no. You’ll be much aware of your spending habits- whether you’re a big spender or a thrifty person.
Gives Peace of Mind
Yep, no surprise there. If you diligently oversee your expenses, you can sleep at night peacefully, knowing that all your financial necessities are in order. Having a clear idea of how much savings you have will also help get you the peace of mind that you’ve always wanted.
Final Word
Keeping account of how much you spend can only be successful if you do it consistently. At first, you might find bothersome, but the more you accurately and list down these expenses, the closer you are in achieving your desired goals in life. With a determined attitude, you’ll eventually be in control.
