Life can certainly be complicated. Juggling work with family responsibilities, combined with financial stress is all too common in many households. Notice I said, “can” be complicated. Many times we work against ourselves and make challenges into very complicated matters. Managing your finances is no exception.
I’ve been on a bent for the last several years to find ways to simplify my life. I look at my growing children and think, “How much am I missing because my life is disorganized?” Understand, I’m in no way qualified to be an expert in organization, but I do believe we can simplify our lives. Reduce the noise and the stresses, but continue to do the things that matter the most to us.
While I’m in no position to offer suggestions in many areas of life, one I feel very confident in is how to simplify money management. Recently, I came across an excellent article written by Jennifer Derrick at SavingsAdvice.com, where she talks about simplifying financial management.
Jennifer wrote:
When people set out to make a budget or adhere to a financial plan, they sometimes make things so complicated that they have no chance of success. They set up accounts at many institutions, they open ten credit cards to maximize the rewards, they make too many rules about what can and cannot be bought, and they try to divide their budget into too many categories. As a result, they end up with a financial plan that is too complicated and that even they don’t understand.
When a financial plan/life is super complicated, you don’t want to deal with it. The thought of balancing all those accounts, paying all the different credit cards and dealing with the rewards, tracking all the budget categories, and adhering to all the rules is exhausting. You may only be able to keep up with a complicated plan for a month or two before you throw up your hands, declare it’s all too hard, and give up, leaving your finances to go their own way (which is almost never in the direction they should be going).
This is why it’s important to keep your financial life as simple as possible. The simpler something is, the more likely you are to keep up with it and actually live by that plan. When dealing with your accounts and your budget is easy and not too time consuming, you’re more likely to find time for it instead of putting it off.
Jennifer couldn’t be more right! Managing your finances is not something that should be complicated. You may have some complex financial issues to solve, but a simple plan is the most effective way of unraveling that complexity. If you’re committed to losing weight and improving your health, a complex diet and exercise plan won’t be sustainable for most people. Same goes for effective personal finance management.
The place to get started is a simplified financial plan. BudgetSketch was specifically designed to simplify the management of your finances. Get started by creating a budget and getting a visual of your financial situation. Remember, keep things simple. Reduce clutter and complexity, and begin to feel empowered again! I know you can do it! 
