There’s no denying it: having to track our expenses, whether on paper, in expense tracking spreadsheets, or in financial management apps, is completely off the list of the most enjoyable things to do. Even managing investments isn’t particularly pleasurable: having to know in detail what the return is in percentage terms, how much is paid in fees, and compare it with other alternatives is equally laborious. The good part is seeing the returns “fall” into our account.
Unfortunately, we have to give you some not-so-good news: there is no other option! To pursue a good Financial Life, you need to do Financial Management.
Are there exceptions? Well, if you are wealthy enough to spend as much as you want and still not need to resort to loans, then you may not need to track your expenses. This does not mean that your Financial Situation is balanced, only that you have so much money that you can afford to spend without control. But that probably isn’t your case, otherwise you wouldn’t even be reading this article!
The secret is to look at life from another angle! Don’t focus on the difficulties you will encounter in seeking this control, but imagine everything you will be able to achieve if you succeed!
Here are 3 tips so that your burden on this journey is not so great. Some may be a little more general, but you will see that they still apply to this highly controversial topic:
1. Read real testimonials.
Reading a testimonial from someone who has already gone through all this ‘work’ and is now in a much better situation is one of the best ways to find motivation. It also helps dispel the impression that everything is difficult or nearly impossible.
2. See problems as challenges.
This is the first great lesson, and it applies to everything in life. Don’t view the expense spreadsheet that needs to be filled out as an obligation, but rather as a challenge that ‘deserves’ to be overcome. It’s like a soccer game among friends: even though there is no prize or medal at stake, nobody wants to lose!
Seek out this idea of a challenge within yourself. If you don’t find it, involve more people, form a “working group,” and organize a competition. Anything goes!
3. Dream … and dream big.
A dream is another great motivator for any activity. And one more important detail: dreaming is free!! So dream, imagine what your life will be like free from debts and loans, with a nice savings account and a peaceful retirement. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Draw inspiration from this dream every time you have to write down another expense and feel lazy.
