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Establishing A Better Routine

June 28, 2023 The last couple of weeks have been really eye opening for me. I never considered myself to be an over-spender, but after taking a closer look at my finances, it is clear to see that I could use some improvement. I have always lived on a budget, but there were some things that I could do to become more consistent to create a better routine. I sat down and thought of a couple easy fixes to save more money and pay down my debts. These simple fixes might be a little time consuming until I make them a habit, but they are necessary if I really want to live a debt-free life.  Obviously, Project Money is an accelerated program to get my finances in order, but it is possible for some of you following my financial journey to make the same slight changes that could make a substantial difference in the long term.One thing I realized is I got into a habit of picking up my phone and going on Facebook or Instagram first thing in the morning. I know a lot of us do this. It can be a way to decompress for some people, but for me, I got sucked into Facebook for extended periods of time which made my time unproductive. Instead of going on social media, I am really making a conscious effort to log in to Summit’s mobile app and checking out my balance daily. I try to do this first thing in the morning so that I can get a gage on my spending for the day. Another thing that I needed to get back into was meal prepping consistently. I found that I would go grocery shopping but sometimes I scramble to throw food together for lunches or for dinners throughout the week. I have also decided Sunday night is going to be the new meal prep day. I felt that if I made this a routine as well, I would be forced to eat the meals I have made instead of stopping at a restaurant for something just because I wanted it. Stopping to get food regularly can be costly and often not budget friendly.I have also started using my calculator at the grocery store to stay on budget.  Although this takes me a little longer to shop, adding up the totals for my items as I went made me really think about if I needed this item or if I wanted it. Ordering grocery curbside pickup is also a helpful way to keep track of spending. It keeps a running total as you go, so again, you can look at the items you have selected and see if this is truly a needed item.In conclusion, I feel like I was doing an okay job with my finances before, but creating a better routine will help me reach my goals of paying down debt and increasing savings much sooner. Being consistent in everything we do is the key to success. You might also be interested in Costa Rica was amazing! It 100% lives up to its slogan, Pura Vida, which means “pure life.” Everyone we met, from our airport shuttle driver, Christian... I still can’t believe that I will be turning 40 in November. Forty years around the sun, as they say. I don’t feel like I look 40, and I don’t feel 40... I have been very fortunate to be invited to my sister and her boyfriend’s property in Costa Rica. It’s a family trip, as my two sisters Katie and Jayme... This month is pretty tight financially. Both my car insurance and camper insurance are due within the same month, so with every purchase I make, I really... Let’s talk saving money. I don’t mean saving money at the grocery store through couponing or using a calculator while shopping. Those are both great ways... Several months ago, I made the decision to invest in buying some items to make a garden at my home. I haven’t had an actual garden since I had my house... As the fall-like temps make their reappearance, I can’t help to think back about summer and how much time and effort I made into making my new seasonal... I got Willow this year in the middle of January. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for a pup, as it was only seven months after I had to put my Gunner down... Several months ago, I made the decision to invest in buying some items to make a garden at my home. I haven’t had an actual garden since I had my house...
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