I did it. I tracked the expenses, I braved the spreadsheet, it wasn’t SO bad! My money is going where I thought it was, and the week after I did the spreadsheet entry, it certainly impacted my spending habits in a good way. It made me want to spend less in certain ways so I could shift that money elsewhere - like buying assets (RRSPs for a start), and putting aside some savings to help create more breathing room financially.

I also am working on the shift from problem-driven to vision-led and am choosing to change my language around money, along with changing my habits. But old habits can have stubborn roots. Two weeks after the spreadsheet entry, I’ve collected more receipts but am still resisting sitting down once per week to enter them and stay more in touch with my money! Sheesh. This is not so hard to do and yet I resist….(and then the financially healthy part of me yells, “resistance is futile! We will overcome!!”)

I sat down to do this blog tonite, so I can take other small steps after I’m done here, even if Idecide not to do it all at once, I can make some progress with “receipt management”. And as I write this, I realize part of the battle I’m facing is that the last time I did this I scheduled a regular time to do it each week. This time I’m not being as diligent about that. I’m doing it when I feel like it. And well, let’s face it: when money and changing habits and discipline are concerned, it’s easy for me to “never feel like it”!

I’ll bet some of you reading this can relate to that…?! So although it’s still a little wobbly with the return to the spreadsheet, I trust myself to keep moving forward. I know if I keep going it will get easier every time. And I’ve chosen to make Thursdays right after work my regular time to spend 30 mins. with my money.