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3 Ways to Simplify Your Finances Right Now

September 27 // 8 Comments // 5 Minute Read

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Does managing money, bank accounts, investments, and/or debt payments ever make you feel overwhelmed? It doesn’t have to! These simple finance tips inspire you to pare down to the absolute basics.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

I am so SO excited to have Rosemarie from The Busy Budgeter on the blog today! Rosemarie is a genius when it comes to managing her money, but what I love most about her is she doesn’t just talk about what to do, she shares how to implement each of her strategies step-by-step. I can’t wait for you to learn all the incredible takeaways she shares in this post. I know you’ll be just as inspired as I am!

Does managing your money, bank accounts, investments, or debt payments ever make you feel overwhelmed? It doesn't have to! These simple finance tips inspire you to pare down to the absolute basics. Let's stop making money so darn complicated! #simplifiedfinances #organizedfinances #moneymanagement

Sometimes dealing with your finances can seem, well…overwhelming at best.

There’s dealing with debt, figuring out who you owe money to and how much, wondering how to start saving, plus dealing with unexpected “life” that happens. (Oh, the furnace stopped working? The car needs new tires? Awesome.) Figuring out finances can feel like a complicated nightmare.

I’m here to tell you, moving from paying off over $40,000 in debt to growing my business, finding a way to afford everything that comes along with our two kiddos, and now helping my husband build his dream business…If I can do it, you can totally get your finances figured out. It can happen.

Will it happen overnight? No. Will there be some sleepless nights when you feel defeated, overwhelmed and just plain frustrated? Yep. But you’re going to make it through. WE’RE going to make it through.

There’s no time like today to start. Take baby steps and just bite off what you can chew. Set small goals and watch your progress. You’re not alone! Tons of people struggle with debt and getting a handle on their finances.

For me, personally, the trick to tackling my finances was setting up my budget. I was NOT one of those people with amazing accounting skills. When I started, I literally had no idea how to make or follow a budget. Once we got going though, it worked. Through trial and error, we figured out what helped and what “tips” and ideas we could toss, and eventually it became easier and easier.

One of my biggest tips? Simplify: Keep It Simple.

Finances can be complicated, especially if you have different revenue streams, various debts, and even inheritance, investments and other positive financial items. Simplifying it and wrapping your head around where you stand with money is really important.

1. Establish Routines to Get Your Life Organized

When I was at the end of my rope with debt and financial disorganization, a huge part of the problem was how disorganized the rest of my life was. My dishes were piled up. My laundry was in heaps throughout the house. Bills and paperwork got lost and tossed aside.

It wasn’t just about lacking financial skills—I was totally lacking basic life skills. I’m not saying washing your dishes is going to directly get you out of debt (wouldn’t that be nice?), but it will help you feel more in control of your life. Few people understand the way that organization, home routines and budgeting are intertwined.

Somehow, when your house is organized, you magically feel like you have a better handle on your life.

How to Be the Perfect Dinner Hostess {When You're an Introvert}

When the kitchen is clean, you can fix meals and plan ahead for the week. You won’t be running to the store at the last minute, blowing your grocery budget, or saying, “forget it” and going out to eat. You’ll have food ready for lunches. You’ll be able to find the items you need on hand. You’ll have clean clothes to wear, and I guarantee that will make you feel more confident and put together. You won’t be so frazzled.

Pick a task you want to get started on. For me, laundry was a big mountain to tackle. However, once I created a simple routine and stuck to it, it became a non-issue. It was pretty amazing, actually.

Having laundry hanging over my head all the time made me feel overwhelmed, behind, and like I was always avoiding something. Once it was off the table, everything else started to fall into place. Getting behind on dirty dishes was another make-or-break item for me, so once I got it under control, my life started to go much more smoothly.

It’s important to establish routines in your home to support your efforts to save money. Not only will it ease your stress, it’ll keep you from spending money to resolve problems caused by being disorganized.

2. Gather Everything & Create a Budget

When debt or overdue bills become stressful, we all have a tendency to make like an ostrich and bury our heads, hoping it will go away. Believe me, I know what it’s like to set bills aside, unopened, because you just don’t want to see what’s in them!

It’s time to figure out as much as you can about where you stand. It’s the first step to getting a handle on everything. Take a deep breath. You can do this.

Gather your bills, your bank statements, the login information for any accounts you have, and your monthly utilities. You’re going to start by simply writing everything out—not the details, just the simple totals.

The only thing standing between everyday chaos and a streamlined, well-organized life are these five organizational tools. Learn how to set goals, stay on top of your to-do's, come in under budget, and keep your life on track and running smoothly!

Write down what you make per month and what you owe. Open up those bills and take a look. I know it might be scary or hard, but it’s something you have to do to move forward. It’s going to be okay. You’re taking steps to move things in a positive direction and that’s what’s most important!

Once you get everything together and written down, it’s time to start putting together a budget. If you’ve never put together a budget before, it’s a great time to go through the steps in the Creative Savings Beginner’s Guide to Budgeting. This guide literally walks you through every single move you need to make to get yourself on a budget and moving forward.

Having a budget gives you a launch pad for everything else. Once you’ve established your budget, you’ve got a guidebook for what you need to do next.

3. Find a Money Management System that Works for You

As part of your budgeting, you’re going to want to find a money management system that works for you. If you’re already using a budget tracker (like YNAB, Mint, Every Dollar, or Calendar Budget), then you’re already a step ahead.

For everyone else, there are many methods to choose from (learn more about 7 budgeting systems you need to try here!). This might mean using different envelopes to manage cash or it might mean setting up an account tracker and avoiding cash all together. The important part is to find something that works for you in a realistic, manageable way.

budget-notebook

Will you stick to it 100%? Probably not, and that’s okay. The goal isn’t perfection, but progress. Even if you slip up, you need to have some wiggle room in your budget and space to account for it.

It’s easy to say, “Oh my gosh, we HAVE to swear off spending forever, NOW!”—but that’s not very realistic. Even if you can manage to cancel your cards, hide your cash, and never step foot in a store, you’ll eventually find yourself facing a want or a need you’d like to fulfill. Make room for it in your budget so you don’t go off the rails. Be realistic.

That said, there might be times when you have to quickly increase your bottom line. For example, a job loss, illness or major unexpected expense. When this happens, don’t panic and run to get a payday loan or swipe a credit card with a giant interest rate and undo your progress. Instead, take a hard look at areas you can cut back on.

This might mean:

  • Quitting your gym membership, swearing off Starbucks, and eating at home.
  • Going on a spending freeze.
  • Cancelling cable or cutting back your cellphone plan.
  • Finding items to sell on eBay, Craigslist or elsewhere.
  • Picking up a side job.

There are many ways to stretch your bottom line and make extra money quickly and fairly painlessly, but it does require some work. Be realistic about your money management and find a way to control your spending and bring in some extra dough when you need it.

Money can be complicated and finances can seem overwhelming. Take small steps to make progress and reward yourself as you go. While it might not mean you get to go to Disney World every time you do a load of laundry or divide your cash into envelopes, you should still take a few minutes at each step to pat yourself on the back.

After all, every journey begins with a step in the right direction.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Every journey begins with a step in the right direction. ” quote=”Every journey begins with a step in the right direction.”]

By simply getting started on your budget, finding a way to manage money better, and getting your life organized, you’re making leaps and bounds over everyone who hasn’t started yet! You can do this. Take the first steps and get started!

What’s your first step?

 

Rosemarie from The Busy BudgeterRosemarie Groner is a formerly stressed, overworked and exhausted mom who loves blogging almost as much as she loves brownies. She writes at The Busy Budgeter about how she used the free Ultimate Money Saving Workbook to reduce their spending enough to be able to quit her job, stay home with her kids and then found ways to make up her salary at home. She’s still working on the cure for exhaustion.

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. Lindsey Mozgai says

    December 7 at 4:08 pm

    For us, our first step was tracking our expenses. We could make fantastic budgets, but that didn’t mean they were realistic. Once we figured out where we were actually spending our money, the rest practically took care of itself

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      December 9 at 2:39 pm

      Absolutely! There’s no use setting up guidelines for spending if you don’t keep track of it after the fact.

      Reply
  2. Sandie @ Fulfilled For Less says

    December 7 at 6:46 pm

    I am a huge fan of Rosemarie and her advice is always spot on! I’ve decided that 2017 is going to be “my year”–the year to finally pay off debt, learn Spanish, and get my home organized and decorated the way I want it. Getting some great systems in place is going to be a huge step towards all my goals!

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      December 9 at 2:37 pm

      That’s awesome, Sandie. Anytime you’re feeling overwhelmed just remember to break your goals down into small, easy to complete, tasks! I’m cheering for you.

      Reply
  3. Natalie @ NatalieBacon.com says

    December 14 at 2:48 pm

    I think finding a money management system that works for you is SO important. I do this through Mint and Personal Capital. Now, it’s automated and my focus is on making more money from my blog to repay my student loan debt. I love it!

    Reply
  4. Michele Cooper says

    January 2 at 2:51 am

    I simplified my finances by focusing on using a single credit card rather than multiple cards. It much simpler and I can track my payments, expenses in much better way. I agree with eliminating any services or subscriptions which you hardly use, you can reduce that payment from your budget.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      January 2 at 3:49 pm

      Finding the system that works best for you is key! Some like having specific cards for specific spending areas, and it works for them. But there is something to be said for having the simplicity of just one single card. Glad you found the system that works for you, because that is what is most important!

      Reply
  5. Harleen Quinzel says

    March 20 at 1:18 am

    Thanks Rosemarie.I have read so many posts on this but never found an answer like this.After having kids,Saving(specially in a country like Sri Lanka) for future have become a must and proper guidance for this is a need.What I do is save every cent I receive in a bank account and withdraw when needed but that works only for a certain extent.Thanks once again for giving valuable advice regarding this matter.

    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. ⁣
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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.⁣
⁣
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. 💞⁣
⁣
But know the difference between wise counsel and someone who wants to subconsciously direct your life.⁣
⁣
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.⁣
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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.” 💞⁣
⁣
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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