Week TWO – Taking Control of Your Finances – Create YOUR Conscious Spending Plan

Money Management Young Family Week 2

WEEK TWO OBJECTIVE: Create your first draft Conscious Spending Plan

Do you get to the end of the month and wonder where did our money go?  Learn strategies to put your hard-earned money to work for you to create a life of security, comfort, and fulfillment.

What is the difference between a budget and a “conscious spending plan”?  Traditionally a budget sets limits on each category of spending without requiring much introspection.  A “conscious spending plan” starts by identifying and quantifying the cost for your top priorities such as a vacation, weekly date night, karate lessons, maxing out 401K, etc… allocating money to those priorities then ruthlessly cutting anything that is not a priority as much as possible.  Dropping cable because “you need to save money” creates a feeling of deprivation.  Dropping cable so you can go to the Caribbean this winter feels like a worthwhile trade-off.  The feeling of empowerment and control when all your money is going exactly where you want it to go is priceless.

The list of reading, listening, and watching option is long this week.  Pick the ones that appeal to you the most

ICE BREAKER Women and Investing: Research and Statistics Summarized

If you only review one thing before your group Zoom meeting, REVIEW THE ICEBREAKER!! The icebreakers are designed to challenge how you think about money and will result in a lively discussion with the women in your group. Click the title link above to watch the video and share your ideas with the group in the discussion box.

LEARNING MODULE 1 : VIDEOS

Next Level Life – The 6 Styles of Budgeting Explained | How to Make A Budget

Next Level Life – Why Budgeting (Almost) Always Fails (And How to Make It Work For You | What Budgeting Teaches Us

Next Level Life is a well researched YouTube channel that strives to make money understandable to everyone.  This week’s two videos provides describe 6 different methods of managing money as well as strategies to be successful using the methods. Click the title link above to watch the videos and share your ideas with the group in the discussion box.

LEARNING MODULE 2 : PODCAST – Afford Anything – The Latte Factor with author David Bach

David Bach has written ten consecutive personal finance New York Times bestsellers over the past 20 years.  What did you think about Bach’s recommendations?  Which would work with your lifestyle?  What ideas from both/either will you apply to your own life?  How does Bach’s perspective compare with the other perspectives we have learned about? Click the title link above to listen to the podcast and share your ideas with the group in the discussion box.

LEARNING MODULE 3 : ARticles

Article 1: I Will Teach You To Be Rich – Ramit Sethi – Conscious Spending Plan: How to Budget by Looking Into the Future

Article 2: Dave Ramsey – Gazelle Intensity: Do You Have It?

These two articles represent a radically different philosophies toward money, however the actual recommendations have many things in common. Which philosophy resonates with you? Click the title link above to read the articles and share your ideas with the group in the discussion box.

ACTIVITY: Track Spending For A Week

TRACK SPENDING!?!?!? YUCK!!!! You do not need to track forever, but a week can be eye-opening. It does not need to be perfect, 80% accurate may be close enough. Click the title link above to learn about tools that can make it easy and share your experience with the group in the discussion box.

Have an Amazing Week! I Can’t Wait to See You in the Zoom Meeting.

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