There are so many awesome things I want to do in my lifetime and I am NOT willing to let money be the reason that prevents me from doing them. This being said, if I were to spend all the money I wanted to spend… I wouldn’t be doing much of anything at this time in my life. I personally need to keep very close tabs on my spending habits because let’s face it, nothing is free anymore, and when you are paying for college, trips across the country, and impulse trips to the movies with your friends, you have very little room for a miscalculation in how much money is really in your bank account.

Something that has reduced my stress and helped me get organized over the years is something I created my senior year of high school called the Life Binder. This is part three of a three-part series where I will give you a sneak peek at my Life Binder and some tips for starting your own! This week I will be focusing on the importance of handling your finances while staying motivated.

My Life Binder is organized in six different parts that are separated by different tabs.

1. Work

This part of my binder I keep a copy of my most recent work schedule at the front so that I can refer to it as I fill out my calendar for the month/week. I also have a finance tracker sheet that I created to keep tabs of how much money I’m spending and where I am most spending it. Along with this, I keep a thin and clear plastic pocket, which you can purchase at Wal-Mart or any supplies store, in which I keep the receipts from my purchases.

Tips:

• Paperclip (and eventually staple) the receipts by week or month so that it is easier to keep track of how much you spent and where.
• At the end of the month take a few minutes to make sure your bank statement matches with your own personal finance tracker. THIS IS IMPORTANT especially if your bank statement is incorrect and you kept diligent records of how much money you spent. It's better to be safe than sorry!
• Highlight spendings that were for work, school, or donations to charitable organizations. You can file these in your taxes and potentially get money back!

2. Travel

I labeled this tab “Travel” because it is was keeps me personally motivated. I reserve this tab to extra miscellaneous things that help me get through the day. I have pictures of friends, family, and places that I want to visit as well as Bible verses or motivational quotes for when I need inspiration. This section is what keeps me stress free from all that comes with planning, scheduling, meal prep, and finances.

Tips:

• I like to keep a notebook in this section so that I can quickly jot down any notes throughout my day!
• This is also where I keep another plastic pocket to place important paperwork I may need later or need to complete.
• This section is completely customizable as is the entire binder!