We've now looked in some detail at the Daily and Weekly Weigh-Ins, a keeping of numbers that will tell you how much you've spent, what you've spent it on, and how much you could have saved had you bought only what's more necessary rather than less. In order for these numbers to begin revealing the particular figures in your shopping carpet, the patterns that characterize your spending, expect to keep this data for two-or better three-months. And to clarify those patterns, to give you a virtual x-ray of your spending habits, transfer the information from your Daily Weigh-Ins to the Weekly Spending by Categories form:
Weekly Spending By Category Dates: __________ to _________
Category Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun Total
Savings/Invest $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Heartsongs $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Home $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Food & Drink $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Clothing &
Accessories $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Self-Care $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Health Care $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Pers. & Spritual
Growth $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Transportation $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Entertainment $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Dependent care $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Vacation $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Gifts $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Dues/Pers $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Business $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Debt/Repayment $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
• At the close of each week, x-ray your spending habits by transferring your Daily Weigh-In data to the Weekly Spending by Categories form. (Don't agonize about categories; just use your common sense. I've largely followed the excellent work of Karen McCall in naming and organizing these categories, and you aren't likely to have much trouble deciding where to put any expense. If you're ever in doubt-does an expensive pre-movie dinner count as Entertainment or Food?-make a reasonable decision. What's most important is that you enter all your expenses and be consistent about categorizing them.)
• Then total the seven days' amounts for each category in which you've spent. Two or three months of Weekly Spending by Categories data will tell you unequivocally what your problem categories are and give you a well-lighted target as you design a more measured and sensible spending plan.
