https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhRLGegNeHw

The ultimate goal of cash flow awareness is to save more each month.  Why? Because generously paying yourself first is the foundation of wealth creation.  With more savings, you build up capital to invest in cash-flowing assets so you can create time and money freedom.  But across all income levels, most people’s savings habits are anemic, or even on life support.  They never get ahead of their spending, so they can’t save. Every month that slips by without a good pulse on your cash flow has you veering further away from financial freedom.One remedy is to outrun the problem by making more money.  

However, making more money often comes with a higher-priced lifestyle.  Without the habit and discipline of savings in place, more income does nothing to help you save more.

The second solution is budgeting. 

But let’s face it – budgeting stinks! It’s stressful, time-consuming, complicated, messy, and usually puts you in a bad mood.  

It can seem impossible to squeeze an unpredictable life into a perfect box.  There never seems to be a good way to handle irregular and unforeseeable expenses.  

Sometimes one spouse is a spender, and the other doesn’t want to instigate conflict by bringing up the subject of tightening up.  

And the whole idea of denying yourself all the things you want seems the opposite of living an abundant life. 

Most people finally resort to some form of “bank account budgeting." Their thought is that if it’s in the bank account, it’s available to spend.  But the eventual outcome is regret and a rude awakening when you need the money, and it isn’t there.

So, instead of being the ostrich with your head in the sand, how do you commit to self-accountability and gain control of your spending?  

With cash flow awareness.

Table of contentsThis is For You, I PromiseHow is Cash Flow Awareness Better Than a Budget?What We’ll CoverWhere Cash Flow Awareness Fits into Your Cash Flow SystemThe Purpose of Cash Flow AwarenessThe Connection Between Abundance Thinking and AwarenessIf You’re Already Consistently SavingStep 1: Start with Your ValuesStep 2: Create Financial Priorities Based on Your ValuesStep 3: Track Your MoneyMake It Simple and Enjoyable Enough to Be SustainableObserver, Not CriticHow Far To Look BackBreaking Down Your CategoriesFour Types of Expenses: Tracking Your Spending by Frequency and PredictabilityStep 4: Analyze Your Spending TrendsStep 5: Discover Your Monthly Cash FlowThe Key of AveragesStep 6: Create a Spending Plan (Not a Budget) for the FutureFluid, But Direct Future SpendingHelpful Mint.com SettingsHow to Plan for Out of the Ordinary ExpensesStep 7: Ongoing Maintenance of Your Cash Flow AwarenessChecklist to Maintain Your Cash Flow AwarenessAn Evolving ProcessMake It FunThe Long-Term Benefits of Cash Flow AwarenessYour Decision Point

This is For You, I Promise

You may already be saving consistently. If so, cash flow awareness will help you approach your spending more consciously, make you feel even better about your money, and probably find even more dollars to save.

You might be in the top 5% of income earners and feel positive about the lifestyle you’ve had the opportunity to create, but still have a pit in your stomach when you think about the future. If you don’t know where all your money is going, and you want to figure out how to get from active income to passive income, this is for you.  Cash flow awareness will show you the steps to get in control and keep more of the money you make so you can make financial progress.

If you feel your income is moderate to low and you haven’t been able to save, these steps will help you shift into a mindset of paying yourself first.

And if you’re here and you’re skeptical because you’ve had a love/hate relationship with budgeting, I’ll raise my hand and say, me too!

How is Cash Flow Awareness Better Than a Budget?