Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.
- Tony Robbins
My priority with Optimizing FI is to help as many as I can get complete control over their finances and help show how what you have can be optimized to lead you to financial independence. Today, we take the first steps in that journey together. That's right, together. I am going to be with you step by step to help you gain the control you only thought possible. What we will create together will be a budget optimizing system specifically for you and your unique lifestyle. There is NO cookie cutter solution for this.
Why do we need to do this? Well, your lifestyle, circumstances, and choices are uniquely yours. Some of yours may look like someone else's but, there will be subtle differences nonetheless. I have seen this more times than not, even when two people are using a similar budgeting system they can look very different. Like I said before, this is unique and dependent on the individuals and we are all very different in many ways. Also, if you are wanting to gain control over your spending and finances you need a budget to gain that control. Plain and simple, you need a budget and you need it now!
“If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit every time.”
- Zig Ziglar
Optimizing FI understands the individuality factors in these systems, that is why we developed these tools to be flexible and allow for adjustments and adapt to different lifestyles and situations. I will help you build a budget that is uniquely you and gets you the results you are looking for. I understand that this can seem daunting, intimidating, and overwhelming. I want to assure you we will get through this and once the pieces start to come together those feelings will pass. I also understand that there has been a negative view about budgets and budgeting over the years giving the notion that it is about penny pinching and frugality. The truth is, a budget is a great tool that does not have to hold you back or restrict you from fun or put a damper on your lifestyle. It is, in my opinion, the only tool that will allow you to gain a more accurate insight into your personal finances.
Creating your budget will be the best thing you can do for your personal finance journey. I, however, will not sit here and pretend that some of this will be a bit tedious and a little undesirable but, they have to be done and once done will not have to be done again. The first few steps we are going to go through are a big part of this and no matter the system or style you choose to use, these steps are inevitable. So, hang in there and you will be well on your journey before you know it with a budget system that works with your style and your values.
“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.”
― Pablo Picasso
Lets cover the basics of what this budget should be. A budget in simple terms is an itemized summary of your income and your expenses. Your personalized budget allows you to plan how and where you will spend and save your money each week, month, or quarter. Before you begin to create your optimized budget it is important that you are aware that you need to provide accurate, detailed, and specific information so that your budget will give you accurate sums for your income and expenses and where everything is going. This budget will also allow you to start prioritizing your spending and give you far more control with future goals.
Now, before we get started on our first step in this transforming journey I want to assure you that this system is set up to work with any income schedule, any income level, and will allow lots of flexibility in the types of expenses and expense categories that you need. I also want to emphasize that this system has adjustability and you do not need to get it perfect the first time through. Once the pieces are put in I encourage you to make changes and adjustments as needed. In the end, this system will provide an overview of your finances that will give you control in every aspect of your financial life.
With that said, let's get this started……..
"A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went."
- Dave Ramsey
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