If you’re anything like me, life is busy, and you’re often pulled in different directions. Your money management is another thing to stay on top of, and it can feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
When things are feeling hectic, a good list can help bring everything to order. So, do I have the list for you – a checklist for your money management!
By using a checklist, you can break your money management down into a series of actions – some weekly, and some annually.
And how satisfying is it to tick-off actions on your list?.... or is that just me!
As an added bonus, by repeatedly using a checklist and repeating your actions, you’ll be building good money habits.
It all starts by making a weekly, recurring appointment with yourself – Money Time.
So, what are you waiting for – open your calendar and schedule your Money Time right now!
Why use Money Time
By faithfully sticking to your weekly Money Time meeting, you’ll have your finger on the pulse of your money management. And that equals confidence.
A regular check-in on your money will help you to better understand your cashflow, and help you stay focused on your goals. Then if problems arise – say an unexpected bill – you’ll be able to adjust your cashflow to deal with it (rather than ignoring and hoping it goes away).
It’s a lot easier if it’s a regular recurring time – it could be your lunch break, or if you’re an early riser, that time of day might work well.
The important thing is to get started, and then play around with a time that works best for you.
Money Time
On a weekly basis, Money Time should only take about 15-30 minutes. But you will need a bit more time when you’re working on a Money Project… more on that below.
Here’s some suggestions for your weekly Money Time checklist:
Check and update your cashflow plan.
Check your bank/credit card accounts for any unexpected transactions.
Pay any bills that are due – if they’re not already on a direct debit.
There are lots of apps available that can help with your money management. But remember to keep the focus on planning ahead – this isn’t about categorising every dollar you’ve spent.
Money Projects
You won’t be able to complete everything on your checklist in 15 minutes, and not everything needs to be done on a weekly basis.
And that’s okay – we’re still going to keep it simple by breaking down the big stuff into a series of Money Projects, then aim to tackle a project each month.
Here’s some suggestions for your Money Project checklist:
Update your goals.
Update your cashflow.
Review your general and personal insurance.
Review your utilities – gas, electricity, internet, mobile phone.
Review your subscriptions… watch out for subscription creep!
Review your loans – personal, car, home and credit card.
Review your emergency cashflow, and reserves.
Review your super and other investments.
These projects are about taking the time to reflect, reviewing your progress, reviewing what you have, and what you need, and taking action if required.
For example, if you did a detailed review of your mobile phone plan last year, a read over the renewal paperwork might be sufficient for this year. This frees up more time and energy to do a detailed review of your electricity bill.
It’s easy to forget or procrastinate on these Money Projects. But believe me, it’s worth it – and with every action you mark off on your checklist, you’ll feel great. It’s a step-by-step approach, working through your checklist, and building your money management confidence.
No more thinking “I must look at that” – instead you’ll know you’ve got it in hand.
What other projects?
It should come as no surprise that this same approach – blocking out time in your calendar – can be used to tackle your other projects.
There’s always a never-ending list of ‘stuff to do’ – so how about scheduling “Stuff” in your calendar as a recurring monthly appointment with yourself? You can add your checklist of projects to the appointment or use a Notes app.
It’s about getting stuff out of your head and having a list in one central place – and getting the satisfaction of ticking things off your list.
Want to know more?
If you’d like a fresh set of eyes on your money management and creating a Money Checklist that works for you, a money coach helps you get the results you want – faster.
Schedule a complimentary call using the link below, and we can discuss if Nutshell Money is the right fit for you.