In a world where materialism can easily get the best of us. It is crucial to remember where our money comes from. It is hard earned, from your personal time.
Remember that the next time an impulse buy becomes tempting, or calculate just how long it would take to earn that shiny new car. Is the object truly worth all the hours you will put into earning it? Are there other experiences that are more worth your time that you would prefer to invest in?
If you are interested in keeping track of your finances a little better, here are some tips:
1. Schedule a family meeting each week to meet with your partner and/or family on upcoming expenditures for the week. This can be difficult to get in the habit in at first, but the impact can be incredible. Save notes on your computer or phone for each week to track your progress.
2. Utilize tools. There are many great money tracking apps out there. One of our favorites is Mint. It keeps track of all your income and expenditures in one place.
3. Educate your children. Check out http://famzoo.com, a hands-on educational system. The virtual family bank is a private family “banking” system designed to teach kids to earn, save, spend, and donate money wisely in a safe, friendly environment. Parents are the “bankers”. Kids are the “customers”.