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How to Start a Weekly Finance Routine (And Why You Need One!)

February 10 // 2 Comments // 5 Minute Read

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A mess. That's what my financial life looked like for so long. But then I read this post and decided to add this one simple financial habit to my week, and it changed everything! Suddenly I knew where my money was going and when, how much I could still spend, and I felt in control of my finances for the first time ever. Highly recommend this habit!
The key to healthy financial habits is consistency. Here’s why having a weekly check-in is important (and how to start!)!
 This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.
 
A mess. That's what my financial life looked like for so long. But then I read this post and decided to add this one simple financial habit to my week, and it changed everything! Suddenly I knew where my money was going and when, how much I could still spend, and I felt in control of my finances for the first time ever. Highly recommend this habit!

A few years ago, I found myself sitting down to a mess whenever I updated our finances. I’d let weeks go by without checking in…and it showed!

Bills were paid on time, but I would miss dozens of receipts. This was back when I used an Excel spreadsheet to track everything and had to manually add every purchase.

No wonder I procrastinated so much when it came to my financial habits—talk about time-consuming!

But when receipts weren’t up-to-date, we encountered another problem: We’d spend more than we had budgeted because we never knew how much money was left in each category. The numbers never felt real.

My financial habits system (which wasn’t much of one) wasn’t working. I needed a more consistent routine. A weekly routine.

A Friday Finance routine.

If you’re feeling like I was, here’s why I suggest you adopt the very same strategy!

Budgeting Made Easy

Keep expense tracking painless—and pretty—with this free printable!

The Importance of a Financial Routine

When you establish a weekly check-in as one of your financial habits, whether it’s on a daily or weekly basis, here’s what happens.

You will…

  • Always know where you stand financially.
  • Maintain momentum toward your savings goals.
  • Quickly spot fraudulent transactions so you can take immediate action.
  • Spend less time getting everything in order when you do check in, because you check in more often!

Most of all, this Friday routine helped me take back control. I no longer worry if we were over budget—because I check in weekly, I can pivot quickly (aka reduce my expenses!) if needed.

Curious about what I do during this routine so you can brainstorm how to adopt one yourself?

In this post, I’ll share the notebook I use, the steps I take, and how I integrate a budgeting app with paper tracking. Because I love using both!

Tools I Use for my Financial Habits:

First, I want to give you an overview of all the tools I use so when I mention them in each section, you’ll know a little about them already.

  • Receipt Jar – A small jar that holds all our receipts until Friday. This helps keep them out of pockets, purses, and floating along the countertops. More on that in this post!
  • Financial Notebook – An 8.5″ x 11″ disc-bound notebook that includes printable monthly calendars, a budgeting cheat sheet, budget worksheets, debt payoff trackers, and a pocket sleeve for checkbooks.
  • YNAB app – All my bank and credit card transactions automatically sync with You Need a Budget. It shows me how much money I have left in each category based on the amount I budgeted. Here’s more about why I love YNAB.
  • Receipt File – Any receipts that might be returned (clothing, tools, etc.) are filed by month in a small accordion file. Because I never want my filing cabinet to look like this again.

Now, for what exactly goes into my Friday routine!

After I’m done with business work for the day, I grab these four financial habits tools, sit back down at my desk, and work through each of these steps. Depending on the week, I spend anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour on this task.

I’ll explain more about why my time varies later!

Step 1: Enter or Confirm Recent Purchases

Even though YNAB pulls in all my transactions, it doesn’t always know how to categorize them. It is a computer, after all!

And sometimes I need to split one receipt into multiple categories! Like when I go shopping at Target and buy paper towels (Household Items), clothes (Beauty + Style), and pick up a few snack items (Groceries).

I pull all the receipts out of my receipt jar and match them up with each line item in YNAB, assigning categories as needed.

When that’s done, I double-check each account, matching what YNAB says my current balance is with what the bank/credit card says, to make sure there are no missing transactions.

Nothing is outstanding (that I don’t know about!) when I move onto the next few steps.

Step 2: Pay Upcoming Bills

In my Financial Notebook, I have monthly calendars for the entire year. On each calendar, I list my paydays (1st and 15th) as well as mark down the days each bill is due.

(The grey highlighted bills are automatic withdrawals that I don’t have to pay manually!)

Every Friday, I pay any bills due within the next two weeks. I like to get ahead just in case something comes up and I don’t get to do my Friday routine until Saturday.

Step 3: Close Out Current Budget and Set Up My New One

Because I budget per paycheck rather than by month, I start a brand new budget on the 1st and the 15th. So I either skip or complete this step, depending on how close a Friday falls to a payday on the calendar.

Thus why some Friday finance routines take longer than others!

calendar with paydays marked

Side Note: For January 29th, I would still close out the last two weeks and start a February 1st budget. The 29th-31st would then become no-spend days.

I like to budget by paycheck rather than by month because a lot can change in a month! What if I schedule a doctor’s appointment two weeks out and need more money in my Medical category? Or we’re hosting a dinner and I need to increase my Grocery budget?

Budgeting by paycheck allows me to pivot more easily.

  • To close out a budget, I open up YNAB and write down our actual spending totals for the two weeks onto my budget worksheet. (Shown above) Then I mark any overage amounts in a red pen. Papermate InkJoy pens are my favorite!
  • If any category is over budget, I’ll cover those overages in YNAB with another category that has money in it, OR use my next paycheck to cover the negative numbers.
screenshot of YNAB screen with budget cateogires
  • Next, I pay myself from my business for the next two weeks.
  • From this paycheck, I’ll start a new budget with a fresh worksheet and set aside money for each category. Monthly bills stay the same (obviously), but I’ll often adjust our living expenses. These can change based on how much we travel (which means a higher gas budget!) or if we have an upcoming vet appointment (which means I should add more money to the Pet Care column than I normally do).
  • Once I’ve accounted for every dollar (zero-based budgeting), I enter my budget into YNAB so it’s ready for future transactions.

Psst…I promise to go into more detail about my two-week budgeting process in a future post on my financial habits! I don’t want to overwhelm you here because budgeting is not the point today….

Checking your finances on a regular basis is the habit I want you to start now.

The Best Way to Prioritize Your Finances

Here’s something I’ve learned the hard way: If you want to make anything a priority in your life, you must establish a routine for it. Otherwise, it won’t get done.

  • Want to write 500 words a day? Create a writing routine at the same time every day.
  • Want to read every day? Create a reading routine. I read after lunch and before bed!
  • Want to stay on top of your finances, which will allow you save and spend more intentionally? Create a finance routine. Hint: it doesn’t have to be on Friday!

A routine will integrate any activity into a normal part of your every day. And when you stick to it, you will reaffirm that your routine is important.

Just like your finances.

Do you have a finance routine?

Don’t be shy about sharing your takeaways (or things you do differently) in the comment section! I’m always fascinated by how others update their finances and what methods they use.

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

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Comments

  1. Shelli says

    February 13 at 3:22 pm

    Excellent post! Thank you for sharing the visuals as well. I tried YNAB and I think not realizing that I could also have a physical worksheet to fill in the gaps is what was missing. Thank you for that!

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      February 15 at 2:44 pm

      You are very welcome!! I hope it works well for you.

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Kalyn—a recovering perfectionist who nerds out about organizing systems, personal productivity, and helping you prioritize what matters over the pressure to do it all. I have a feeling we’re about to become the best of friends! Learn more >>

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When you want to “make over your finances”, wh When you want to “make over your finances”, what first comes to mind? 🤔💭

Cutting back on a few expenses? Overhauling your budget? Establishing an Emergency Fund...or increasing its size? 💰

These are ALL worthy endeavors. 👏

But none of those things matter if you don’t check in on your finances on a regular basis. 😳

It only takes a couple of days (or weeks) for that motivational wave of “I’m gonna become a financial rockstar” to wane... then fizzle out completely. 🤯

That’s why the most important financial habit you’ll ever create is a weekly finance routine. 📆

In this newly-released blog post, I’m sharing why a weekly finance routine will influence your bottom line more than anything else, as well as dish ALL the details of what I do, every Friday, to get in tune with my bank accounts and budgeting app. 📱

Want the link? Leave a money bag emoji in the comments below! 💰

If you have a similar routine (or want to adopt one for the first time!), I’d love to hear about it! 👇🏻
Over the past six months, I’ve changed. ⁣ ⁣ Over the past six months, I’ve changed. ⁣
⁣
1️⃣ Joseph and I adopted a plant-based diet.⁣
2️⃣ I got the tattoo I’ve been wanting for years.⁣
3️⃣ And last November, we bought a motorcycle.⁣
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Needless to say, people have commented about my recent changes too.⁣
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Most are positive. 🥰⁣
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Others are not. 😳⁣
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And of course, in typical people-pleasing fashion, I tend to focus on the critics more than the cheerleaders. 📣⁣
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But you can't live your life by other people's expectations of you.⁣
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I'm not saying to disregard what anyone has to say or ignore every opinion that doesn't line up with your way of thinking. Listen to wise counsel and learn everything you can from those who've walked whatever road you want to travel. 💞⁣
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But know the difference between wise counsel and someone who wants to subconsciously direct your life.⁣
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Because the critic doesn't get to live your life.⁣
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You do. 🥳
I’ve seen a lot of new faces follow me this mont I’ve seen a lot of new faces follow me this month—welcome! 👋

My name is Kalyn (swipe right to see my husband, Joseph, and I shivering at the beach). We travel full time in an RV, but are Floridians at heart. 60 degrees is NOT warm enough for a beach day! 🏝️

I started blogging in 2012 to share my love for saving money. Today, I help thousands of women live a more minimalist lifestyle, establish planning systems and routines, and pursue positive personal growth. 💪

It is a huge privilege to connect with you here. 🥰

Other random facts: I love to read (lately I’m a fan of psychological thrillers), crocheting relieves my anxiety, and I’m five months into eating a plant-based lifestyle. 🌱

I used to hate meal planning and being in the kitchen but going vegan helped me fall in love with cooking nutritious meals. 🍽️

New or not, thank you for adding me to your feed. I’m so grateful we connected on social media. 

Now it’s your turn! Share a random fact about yourself in the comments. I want to get to know you better! 💞
Minimalism ≠ Deprivation.⁣ ⁣ Sadly, I find m Minimalism ≠ Deprivation.⁣
⁣
Sadly, I find most people resist minimalism because they can't wrap their head around "having less." People tend to equate this movement with blank walls, white IKEA furniture, and decluttering everything in your home down to practically nothing so you can live full-time in an RV. Like me. 😉⁣
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But, while minimalism could be all that, this mindset misses the point. Minimalism is not only about “having less.” 🚫⁣
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It’s so much more than that.⁣
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This week on the blog, I'm sharing the REAL definition of minimalism (that people who love their stuff can totally get behind!) as well as practical ways to incorporate minimalism into your life. 🎉⁣
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Drop a heart emoji in the comments below and I'll send the link to your DM's! 💖
I love lazy Saturday mornings...as long as I have I love lazy Saturday mornings...as long as I have a book and a cozy blanket! 😍
I wrote this in my journal the other day: 📓⁣ I wrote this in my journal the other day: 📓⁣
⁣
“I’ve been thinking about what tech boundaries I want to instill, including boundaries related to work and productivity. I’ve become less careful about my media consumption, and it’s having a negative affect on my mental health.” 💞⁣
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Have you ever felt a similar tug? ⁣
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I can’t begin to tell you how many times I pick up my phone because I’m bored or lonely or jealous or unhappy. It almost always makes me feel worse. And yet...I struggle to stop. 😝⁣
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Here are the ideas I’ve been trying this month and I’m already seeing a positive effect:⁣
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➕ No logging into social media after 8pm. I need to wind down for the night, not get lost in my phone! 📲⁣
➕ Open Instagram with a purpose—either to post or to interact. Stop endlessly scrolling.⁣
➕ My only screen time before 9am should be for Bible Study apps or News. 🗞⁣
➕ Turn my phone on Do Not Disturb during Tiger Time (when I need the most focus for work) 💪⁣
➕ Work no more than 4 hours on my business per day. If a task isn’t complete, push it to the next day. This time frame has really helped me prioritize! 💻⁣
➕ Watch one show per day (or two if they are short!) and leave movies for the weekend. 📺⁣
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What tech boundaries have you set up? Are any new as of this year? I’d love to hear your ideas! 😃
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