In my last blog I talked about the link between personal finance and weight loss. I am happy to report that I have lost 10 lbs so far and I am just starting the program.

Keeping track of everything and making time to do the work really sucks especially if you get behind on tracking, which I did, and had to do a whole month at once. Seeing the honest truth of your finances in black and white is tough. I guess just like anything else if you don’t do the work you won’t get any results. You have to put in the time and effort to really make it worth it. Now I stay on top of it and it is much easier. The thing about personal finance is that it helps so many other areas in your life that I am sorry I did not sign up sooner. I have less stress, less worry or guilt about money, and just feel so much more in control of my finances.

I am learning alot about my spending habits and where my money is going. It is scary to have to really get busy and realize where it all goes. Somehow it is easier to just not worry about it and hope you don’t get behind. Paycheck to paycheck is not bad right? As long as the bills get paid and you have money for food who cares about savings? Who cares if there is an emergency, I have credit cards in case anything happens, right? Retirement, ha that is too far away to worry about now? Wrong.

I do care and I am doing something about it. I now have no credit card debt and got rid of my outrageous interest rates. Just seeing it all in a spreadsheet and how long it would take to pay off and how much I was spending on interest was enough for me to take action. I now have goals and I am meeting them. I now have a savings account and granted it is not huge but if there is an emergency with the kids or me I can use my savings instead of credit cards and paying interest. I am a single mom and I have to always have that backup plan and some kind of security knowing if something happens I can cover it. I have kind of created my own personal credit card now called savings that does not charge me interest each month.
 

I am far from cured. I want what I want when I want it. Waiting or saying no is not easy for me and don’t tell me I can’t do something because that will make me do it. HA! I make mistakes and know I will continue to make mistakes but I will not beat myself up for it anymore. I have everything in one place and every time I think of buying something or doing something I can’t afford I think does this item or action help me and my family achieve our goals? Is this new outfit more important than my children and their college account or, can I find something to wear I already have. If I over spend I will not be able to take that vacation I want to take. The Consilio personal money management program really works and it is making my life and my childrens life more meaningful. Looking forward to the next step in the program. I am getting there one piece of mind at a time.