Resources

The only way to really know what your expenses are is to chart them. Yes, you can do it with a computer. Yes, you can do it with a calculator. Yes, you can do it with a computer software program, but the easiest thing to do is to use my Cookie Jar Expense Checklist sheet. The following are the instructions for effectively completing your Cookie Jar Expense Checklist.

1. Every time you spend money, whether it is a check, cash, or credit card, write down on a piece of paper what you purchased and how much you paid for the purchase. Then, put the piece of paper away and start over again with your next purchase.
   
2. During the evening take those pieces of paper and put them into your cookie jar. Do this every day for an entire month.
   
3. On the last day of the month, take all of the pieces of paper out of the cookie jar. Itemize them on the Cookie Jar Expense Checklist, total them, and that will give you the exact amount of money you spent during the month.
   
4. Don’t stop there! Repeat this procedure every month for a year. This will give you a more exact total of your expenses. With this knowledge, you will then be able to invest the rest.

Thank you for your interest. If there is anything else in which we can be of help, please feel free to contact us.