Step One: Let’s Get Real (and Itemized)

Grab your coffee... or cocktail. We’re going in.

You ever feel like you’re doing okay financially... until you open that banking app and realize you’ve got more vibes than actual dollars? Yeah. Same. But don’t worry—we’re not here to spiral. We’re here to start fresh.

And that starts with a step so simple it often gets skipped: knowing what’s actually coming in and going out. Not the guesstimates. Not the “I think I only spend $100 on groceries” lies we whisper to ourselves in the Target parking lot. We’re talking real numbers. On paper (or screen).

The Honest Budgeting First Step: Track Your Income, Bills & Expenses

This is where budgeting begins, and it’s less “cut lattes” and more “know thy spending habits.” Think of this as a personal finance therapy session—you’ll only get results if you’re brutally honest. No shame, no guilt, just clarity.

1. Start with Income

Let’s begin with the happy part: money coming in. List every source of income and their expected pay dates.

Examples:

• Biweekly paycheck (1st & 15th)

• Freelance or side hustle payouts

• Child support or alimony

• Government benefits or stipends

You want to see your total income per month clearly. If it varies, average your last 3 months.

2. List Your Monthly Bills (With Real Due Dates)

We’re not talking about that “grace period” cushion we all pretend is a billing strategy. Nope—we want actual due dates.

Examples:

• Rent/Mortgage – due the 1st

• Utilities – water, gas, electricity

• Phone & Internet

• Insurance – car, health, renter’s

• Streaming services – Netflix, Hulu, etc.

• Credit card minimums (yes, even the ones we pretend don’t count)

  
  

Pro tip: Put those due dates on a calendar. Seeing them all together is a game changer.

💬 Want the calendar sheet I use? I’m happy to share it—just shoot me a message via the Contact page on the site.

3. Break Down the Everyday Expenses

Here’s where it gets real—and where most people forget the small stuff that adds up faster than we realize.

Examples:

• Toiletries (yep, toothpaste isn’t free)

• Cleaning supplies

• Grocery trips (be honest about frequency and cost!)

• Lunches out and coffee grabs

• Gas or transportation

• Pet food and vet visits

• Hair appointments or nail touch-ups

• Amazon’s sneaky “Buy Now” button

• DoorDash history—open it, face it, accept it

You don’t need to judge your spending right now. You just need to know it. Think of this part like a financial diary entry. Private. Safe. No one’s grading it.

Why Seeing It All in One Place Changes Everything

There’s something powerful—almost magical—about seeing your actual financial reality laid out.

That $13 lunch you keep justifying? It doesn’t seem like much… until you realize you did it 8 times last month. That’s over $100. And you definitely deserve it—but wouldn’t you rather know what you’re working with before you decide where it goes?

And sometimes, this exercise is like finding a forgotten $1 in your jeans pocket—surprising, small, but kind of exciting. Maybe you’ll uncover little spending habits to shift, or opportunities to save, invest, or just plan better.

The Real Talk

If you’ve ever tried to budget before and failed—hi, welcome to the club—I’d bet you skipped this part. Or rushed through it. Or rounded numbers in your head. And now here you are, ready to reset.

This time, we do it differently.

And look—I get it. Waking up in your forties, still figuring out what you want to be when you grow up, realizing you’re not just hoping to “have it together,” you need to. The cost of face cream is up, rent is up, and your tolerance for living paycheck to paycheck is down. Way down.

You want more time with your people. Or even just a peaceful hour alone where your brain isn’t doing mental math.

So we start here.

Your Takeaway:

📝 Write it all down. Every income stream, every bill with due dates, and every category of expense. No judgment. Just record it.

📆 Use your favorite journal, a spreadsheet, a budgeting app, or even the back of a grocery receipt. Whatever works for you.

This is not the step where you change your life. This is the step where you understand it. And trust me—that's half the battle.

Let’s Chat…

Have you done this before? What surprised you when you saw it all on paper? Did your DoorDash tab hurt your feelings? (No shame—I’ve been there.)

Drop a comment or message me. Let’s hold each other accountable and laugh through the learning.

Stay tuned for Step Two: Categorizing Your Spending Without Losing Your Mind—coming soon!