Financial Map

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2005
Financial Map
4
Tue, 06-14-2005 - 12:12pm

Has anyone every did/do a financial map? It is where you track your spending on absolutely everything for one month to see what you spend where. I start doing it and then I stop for whatever stupid reason. I am thinking starting one up again.

Jennifer

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 06-14-2005 - 12:22pm
I've never heard it called a financial map, but I do this every month with my Quicken program. I record everything - I'm pretty anal about it! It is very enlightening and shows you places where money just drifts away. You could also do it w/MS Money or even a spreadsheet. The best trick I have found is keeping an old business card in my wallet and recording any cash outlay on the back of it every day. I then reconcile the cash left w/my card. I don't
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2005
Tue, 06-14-2005 - 2:42pm
Thanks. I am just trying to get an idea of what kind of tracking system people do. I may try to create one on Excel.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-1999
Wed, 06-15-2005 - 10:32pm

I have been tracking my spending for quite a awhile to remain accountable to myself about what I have been spending on. I haven't been doing it this month, but will pick it up again in July. Basically, I bought a spiral notebook and just started writing down EVERYTHING I do in my financial life. Even phone calls that are about my finances....then I can track everything I have been doing. Seems like a lot, but good records are helpful. These records are not fancy, and it has taken some time to figure out what works for me for recording all this.

Just stay consistent for a month even if it is a bit annoying, but it is worth it. You may see patterns or be able to look back and see where you spend.

Good luck, Littlesbigs

Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 06-16-2005 - 8:47am

I *DID* use Quicken and was very, very good about tracking everything and well....I quit once everything went crazy here for a while and haven't gotten back to doing it yet.


You also might want to check on the Budgeting board as Tracking Your Expenses is part of that board now


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