What happens to our money through the days and the weeks is largely unconscious.  You have an idea but a lot of the detail is missing.  When you take the time to record every transaction it brings what is actually happening sharply into focus.  When your current reality around money habits show up as they really are you have tangible information. 

What happens to our money through the days and the weeks is largely unconscious.  You have an idea but a lot of the detail is missing.  When you take the time to record every transaction it brings what is actually happening sharply into focus.  When your current reality around money habits show up as they really are you have tangible information. 

This information can assist you to make choices and changes that will give you more control around your money.

For example:  You notice that you are spending $4.50 on a coffee four times a day on average.  That is $18 a day.  And $126 per week.  You are a little shocked that for someone who is always a bit short of cash you are spending so much on coffee.   You have a dream of getting to the Edinburgh Arts Festival but don’t have any spare cash to save to make it a reality.  From noticing where your money goes you are prepared to forgo three coffees per day.  This saves you $4,914 over 52 weeks.  You  get yourself to Scotland in time for the next festival.   Even a saving of one coffee per day is going to give you $1,642 by the end of the year. 

Your money diary

To develop your money flow awareness get a little notebook that can fit in your pocket or handbag and carry it everywhere (or use one of these Money Diary apps).  Record every money transaction for one month.  It is enlightening.  Even if you think you know what you do with your money – try it.  See what shows up that you weren’t aware of. 

This exercise will:

• Bring what you are actually doing with money into focus.

• Allow you to see your money drain, where money just disappears without you realising. 

• Enable you to make adjustments so more of what you want can show up.

After keeping your diary for one month, study it and commit to a change.  If you want something different, do something different.

* * * The Next Step * * *

Here is what two people did to begin making change with their money beliefs and behaviours

1.  One person wanted to turn their money situation around and knew they had to start saving.  Being on a benefit she had nothing left at the end of the week.  She decided the only thing she could do was to empty her change out at the end of the day and save that.  That was how she began to turn the tide on her money situation.  That same person became a millionaire over the following six years.  Her name is Sandy Forster.

2. Shift your boundaries of what you think is possible.  Dare yourself to do something you don’t consider is possible with money.  One person I worked with had no confidence in her ability to generate money.  She dared herself to raise $10 over the weekend.  This might not seem big but it was a big psychological barrier for this person.  She did it.  She took something to a second hand shop and sold it for $5.  Living near a stadium that had a show on she sold a car park on her lawn for $5.

What are you going to do to turn your money tide?