Money Date
“Know what’s on the menu?…Me ‘n’ u.”
A Money Date doesn’t sound very fun, but at least you don’t have to endure cheesy pick-up lines!—What’s a money date?
It’s the hour of time that you should block off on your calendar every month to sit down and review your personal finances from top to bottom. While this task may sound intimidating, it doesn’t have to be. Think—a 7oz pour of your favorite varietal, in bed, with your laptop. Maybe a cheese plate is on your nightstand! ?♀️
Now let’s get into your Money Date itinerary…
Jump Ahead to
Set Your Financial Goals
During your Money Date (you can do this solo or with your partner), you should first start by setting measurable attainable goals, and a plan for how you are going to get there. For example, “I want to save $6,000 for my emergency fund. To do this I am going to pay myself first and put aside $500 every month for the next year.”
If you already have these goals in place, use this time to review them and ensure that you know what it is you’re working towards. In fact, make sure to write them down!
Check Your Account Balances
After this, check your account balances. Checking in is key to reaching your goals: How much debt did you pay off? How much do you have in your savings account? Do you need to make any adjustments to how you are going to reach your goals?
Audit Your Purchases
Next on the agenda—after a sip of wine and a nimble of cheese—is reviewing your credit card statements. Were there subscriptions you forgot to cancel? Is there a charge you don’t recognize?
You are doing an audit of all your purchases the past month: Are the majority of the purchases things that were worth it? Or are there purchases that you would not repeat moving forward? The point of this is not only to make sure there is no fraud or double charges, but also for accountability. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to your spending habits!
Celebrate Your Progress
Maybe at this point your wine glass needs to be topped off because now it’s time for the fun part! No matter where you are in your financial journey, celebrate how far you’ve come. Giving yourself a pat on the back is just as important as holding yourself accountable.
Key Takeaways
The most important part of your Money Date is simply the act of doing it. Success is the result of consistency, and consistency is facilitated by good habits!