Are You Ready to Radically Change Your Relationship with Money…and Your Life?

Want to radically change your relationship to money…and your life? Write down everything you spend. It’s called tracking your expenses.

Believe me, tracking is not just for budgeting or those with limited means. The numbers reveal a story about your life.

You’ll discover bad habits and blind spots; where you’re putting your time and energy; what’s missing in your life; where you’re not living your values.

Here’s how it works. Buy a small notebook or find an empty checkbook register that fits into your pocket or purse.

Whenever you buy something—be it a yoga class or a cup of coffee, whether you use cash, check, debit or credit—jot down the item along with the cost.

Warning. Do this at the point of purchase. Otherwise, as receipts pile up, you’ll likely give up in overwhelm.

It’s also important to do this exercise by hand, not electronically, at least for the first few months. Using an app may be easier, but the physical act of writing keeps you mindful and connected to your money.

I’m not asking you to change anything. You can if you wish. But it’s more important to simply note, without judgment, how much you spend and on what.

This is meant to be a consciousness raising exercise. And it’s powerful! Tracking also has a ripple effect.

A fascinating study by Australian researchers, found that when participants in the study wrote down every purchase for four months, their financial lives improved..

Surprisingly, they also smoked and drank less, ate less junk food and even found they were more productive.

The study found that, “As people strengthened their willpower muscles in one part of their lives — in the gym, or a money management program — that strength spilled over into what they ate or how hard they worked. Once willpower became stronger, it touched everything.”

These results didn’t actually didn’t surprise me. I’ve always known that whatever is going on with money is going on in other areas of your life as well.

When you become more conscious of your money, you’ll become more conscious of detrimental habits in other areas as well.

Are you willing to track your spending for the next 30 days? Or if you’re doing it now, how’s it going for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Comment below.

Comments & Feedback

  • Evadney keith

    I have no concept of how to appreciate my money or to accept my worth.
    I need help please with changing my mindset about how to manage my money!

    • Lisa

      Evadney,

      I think Barbara is a pro when it comes to these types of things.

      For me, it was getting in touch with what I really want and value! Intellectually, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and materialistically!!

      I did this by doing a lot of mindful work and writing lists! ✍️

      What kind of health do you want? I want the choice to get special jet teeth cleaning outside of my insurance plan.

      I value having a secure roof over my head. I like having cash to take a course or two every year. I need to see a hairdresser 4 times a year. I like that I have frozen children in an IVF center. I want to buy a condo on the beach one day. I need to take a sailing lesson this month.

      But most of all, I really want to live off interest oneday! Free to do whatever I like and not have to worry about how much money they will pay me! I just want to take on any project that seems fun or does good!

  • Jeffrey Brown

    I think this is a great idea and I’m willing to give it my best shot.

  • Lisa

    Yay Jeffrey 🙌

    Keep it realistic, but most important, keep it true! Write ✍️ it down in October and plan to execute in 2023. You will need the rest of this year to carefully think about what you want and money to execute. Don’t quit. Your primitive brain will want to sleep in or eat chips in front of the TV. Don’t listen to it! You will feel great at the end of the year! Copy your list onto your iPhone so that you can look at it daily! 🤳

  • Pam D.

    This practice tracking your spending truly will change your life. I’m thankful for this proactive self-care conversation,
    Barbara, tracking is especially helpful to me when purchasing with online retail that have your stored information or PayPal.
    Wait, even better is to delete your card on file so you can be even more conscious when you purchase and have to put in the details.
    Then writing this down makes the whole transaction an artistic practice. Happy and ready for more.
    Thank you, Barbara Hudson.

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Meet Barbara Huson

When a devastating financial crisis rocked her world, Barbara Huson knew she had to get smart about money… and she did. Now, she wants to empower every women to take charge of their money and take charge of their lives! She’s doing just that with her best-selling books, life changing retreats and private financial coaching.

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