Just in case you missed it: How To Stop A Financial Tailspin Part 1

This is a series on how to stop a financial tailspin. You know, that whole thing where one thing went wrong and then seven hundred other things went wrong at the same time? Yeah, that. Part 1 covers how to stop the panic, and part 2 is…

Get Honest With Yourself And Write It Down

Do you really not have enough money to fix the car or are you eating take out while telling yourself you can’t afford it? The only way to know for sure is to write down your income, write down your bills, and see how much money you’re wasting.

Many people think they know how much they are spending but when you are doing the math in your head you might be forgetting that $10 you make from blogging (or ten other $10 things you do that make you a hundred dollars you don’t think about) gets blown on Mickey D’s or on something else that takes your money and saves you time.

If you are honest with yourself and decide not to give up some of those little luxuries that’s fine, but own it instead of thinking you just can’t afford it when you may be spending money in areas you don’t even realize.

Once you know exactly how much money you need to get your car fixed or your rent paid you can take the next step…Jennifer Gniadecki is a wife, mother, budget junkie, and freelance corporate writer. You can read her personal blog at Beyond Mom.

Photo by jimmers