Nawa'y ang ating Disyembre ay maging green, parang luntian na papunta sa pagiging berde. No, this is not green-minded stuff. Hahaha. (defensive noh?).
But to make things set aright, for something that we look forward to on what we wanted to accomplish, let's put some markers, or even reminders to our own selves on how to focus on those goals -
to make it as a reality.
2020 is just around the corner, it's a great time for new beginnings again. A nice way to freshly put things in to perspective. I'm not saying you can't start at anytime of the year, but definitely you can start fresh anytime.
However, since January is fast approaching, better prepare the tools, make plans and know the details how to execute each of these plans.
You don't want your bonuses (13th month and other pays, dividends, monthly bond savings)
to go down the drain. Na parang naibulsa lang sa isang
supot (wallet) na butas.
Top 3 things to do (basics)
1. Keep on reminding yourself on your goal (What you want to accomplish this coming year)
(ie) Say you wanted to take control of your spending and see the trends how you spend each of your earned dollar or peso, then aim to muster all your focus in not losing that thought-process, that earnestness to take control of your finance and see it all through.
That's the reason why, i'm blogging this because i wanted to keep reminding myself that that is one of my goals this year. Visual markers and small reminders that takes you to greater heights in getting closer to realizing those perspective.
2. Jot down and journal (verb) your goals
(ie) Going back to our example above, have something - a kind of a process where you get to do daily the tasks, in order to get closer to your goals.
Sample? Use a tracker spending app, or as simple as the excel file that can accommodate your daily spending.
I remember one of the financial advisors from
Sunlife who happened to by my colleague at Dell Inc. before, he normally tracks every cent he spends on. He's using an Android app where he inputs all the his spending items. That was like 3 years ago when i sit down with him and discuss some financial planning on my part.
Sad thing? I didn't follow his best practices of tracking every penny.
Good thing? I started tracking my spending 6 months ago - religiously. As in daily. In the next paragraphs, i'll share my template in excel that i've been using.
Now, i have a better view on my daily expenses.
Now, i can see the trends of my monthly spending.
Now, i can see the graphs or chart of where my monthly salary, and other incomes went through.
Naka-ipon ba ako? (
'yan ang malaking katanungan) Or baka naka-utang pa ako at indebted sa mga banko at credit card companies. LMAO.... I will keep my mouth shut - pero i'm quite happy naman on my own financial trends for the last 6 months.
What matters now, is i get to channel how to manage these finances. True that! I can simulate and gamify my own tracker as i wish.
If you're an Excel Ninja - i'm sure you get to enjoy crunching data and play around with your personal finances data.
3. Keep track of your progress
(ie) Here's how i manage to track my daily spending:
- I use Reminders App in the iPhone. And i mean - real time using it every time i spend a cent or use my credit card.
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| Reminders App - iPhone |
- Either on a daily basis or when i feel like doing it - i will transfer this data to my excel file of daily tracking expenses as long as i won't procrastinate on it for a week - then i'm good. But i'd definitely punish myself if i extend over a week in not updating my Daily Expenses Tracker.
- Afterwards, i just use the data of my daily tracker to create graphs and analysis on trends. I was introspecting while blogging this...
What drove me to talk about financial literacy where i myself is no guru on this field. I came to realize that propagating even the basics to anyone who could read and write, do basic accounting etc is really good for the soul.
Why soul? hahahahaha! Because at the end of the day, if your mind is happy, contented, at peace and satisfied. Your soul is being nourished as too.
Your sense of peace and your outlook to things inside and outside of yourself dramatically changes to positivity.
Ang habit na 'to - applicable lang ba sa mga naghahanap-buhay?
Of course not. If you're a high-schooler reading this, it's better to start as early as now. Learn how to be accountable, learn to be consistent and do yourself a favor - be financially literate and take ownership.
I'm not sure if you can feel how i'm so much excited for December and the months to come, in consistently doing this financial process. May it be so basic or complex - it adds fuel to my drive in gaining what you wanted in this life.
Whatever that is, i'm doing you a favor - i hope i had at least enlightened you the importance of basic personal finance. Please reach out to me if you want to have a copy of my Excel Template. I can share and let's collaborate for a better management of our assets and liabilities.
ˆmac
