For most of my late teens and early twenties, budgeting wasn’t even on my radar. As long as my bank account wasn’t in the negative, I figured I was doing fine. My financial “plan” boiled down to mental math, occasional glances at my bank balance, and hoping for the best. Spoiler alert: that wasn’t a sustainable strategy.
Before I discovered Excel and Google Sheets, I tracked my income and expenses in a small notebook that fit in my purse. At first, it seemed like a responsible thing to do, but it quickly became tedious. Every week, I’d sit down with a calculator and manually add up my expenses. Let’s be real—that was neither fun nor efficient. Eventually, I gave up and resorted to guessing how much I had left to spend each month.
The problem? Without a clear record, I had no real idea where my money was going. I didn’t know when I was overspending or how much I needed to save. And if I’m being completely honest, I avoided budgeting because I was scared of what I’d find. What if I had been living beyond my means all along?
The Turning Point: Discovering the Power of a Budget
As I became more financially aware, I started looking for better ways to track my money. That’s when I turned to spreadsheets. With Excel and Google Sheets, I built my first real budgeting tracker—and everything changed.
For the first time, I had real visibility into my finances. I could see exactly where my money was going, identify patterns in my spending, and make informed decisions about my financial future. It wasn’t just about numbers; it was about taking control.
The Hardest Part of Budgeting Isn’t the Math—It’s the Truth
Tracking your income and expenses isn’t difficult. What’s difficult is facing the reality of your financial habits. A budget doesn’t lie—it holds up a mirror and forces you to confront uncomfortable truths, like:
- How much you actually spend on dining out
- How much those “small” Amazon purchases add up
- Whether your lifestyle is outpacing your income
At first, seeing those numbers was tough. But over time, I realized something powerful: knowledge is power. The more I tracked my spending, the more I understood my financial psychology. And once I had that knowledge, I could make meaningful changes—whether that meant cutting unnecessary expenses, increasing my savings, or finding ways to earn more.
Why I Avoided Budgeting for So Long (And Why You Shouldn’t)
Looking back, I avoided budgeting because I was afraid of what it would reveal. I worried that seeing the truth about my finances would make me feel overwhelmed or hopeless. But here’s what I learned:
Not budgeting doesn’t make financial problems disappear—it only makes them harder to fix.
When you don’t budget, you live with uncertainty. You don’t know how much you earn, how much you spend, or what changes you need to make to improve your financial situation. But when you take control of your money, you take control of your future.
Budgeting Gives You More Than Numbers—It Gives You Control
Budgeting isn’t just about tracking dollars—it’s about empowerment. It gives you clarity, confidence, and the ability to make informed financial decisions. Whether you prefer a spreadsheet, a budgeting app, or even a simple notebook, the key is to start.
If You’re Not Budgeting Yet, Here’s Your Challenge:
- Choose a method: Use Excel, Google Sheets, an app, or a notebook—whatever works best for you.
- Track for 30 days: Write down every dollar you earn and spend. No exceptions.
- Analyze and adjust: Look at your spending patterns. Where can you cut back? Where should you be saving more?
Your future self will thank you for it.
Final Thought: The best time to start budgeting was yesterday. The second-best time is today. Don’t wait until financial stress forces you to take action—take control now and build the future you deserve.
