What is this class about?

In this class you will learn how to track your money and stay on top of your monthly expenses. You will learn what your minimum monthly budget requirement is and also learn where you have flexibility to save more or spend less.

By the end of this class, you will have a process that will make it clear where your money is going. With that information, you will be able to find opportunities to tweak your expenses so you can continue your path to your financial goals.

Who is this class for?

This class is for beginners who have shied away from words like “budget” and “expenses” and are now ready to tackle this important topic. If you have ever been shocked by your credit card statements, this class is for you. If you ever feel like you have no money even though you have an income, this class is for you. If you are keeping track of your money in your head only, this class is for you.

Why is tracking your money important?

You work hard to make money, and knowing what happens to it after it leaves your wallet is the only way to truly value your hard work. The process of tracking your money will empower you to make sound decisions on where to send it. It will also affect your buying behavior, so thoughtless random purchases will start to disappear from your daily life. Have you ever been to the store to buy 1 item and came out holding 3 things? This is partly because you are not aware of how much money you are spending in a month doing that. Once you start tracking it, it will become easier and easier to say “no” to those attractive extra things we come across everywhere. You will feel empowered and capable of making smart purchasing decisions and direct your money toward things that are truly important to you.

Materials/ Resources

MS Excel (recommended)

*** if you don't have access to MS Office, you can upload the file into google drive and use it there. The formulas should work. If you notice the cells don't update automatically, you may need to close out of the file and get back into it. ***

Access to your credit card/bank statements (for your own eyes only)

30 minutes

Julia Ornelas

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