Cash flow

[vaneramos]

While I've been busy negotiating to refinance my debts, I haven't actually given myself much specific homework with respect to new spending habits. That's okay. I had no idea what would happen when I began to tackle this huge challenge seven weeks ago.

I have set a financial plan and followed it reasonably well for the past two weeks. Although I haven't used the envelopes for weekly expenses, I have withdrawn one single cash amount and spent no more, so I must be staying within budget. But I haven't had much time to think about what I'm doing, much less write about it. Thought, deliberation, experimentation, accountability—these are all key to the establishment of a new habit. I've made decisions, taken actions and tackled obstacles, but I'm not confident that I've addressed the underlying behaviour that got me in trouble in the first place. I still have the feeling, whether it's accurate or not, of being swept along by a flood. There are only 10 days left in the month, and I still have loose ends to tie up with Dad and the bank, so I won't have an appropriate amount of time for more homework. And now feels like the moment to consider transitioning to the third challenge, something completely different: daily exercise.

At least I reached a fork in the river and decided which current I wanted to carry me.

Comments

[pippasporch.livejournal.com]

You've used these 2 months to lay the important ground work, Van, and you will keep building on that, even if you are soon to start focusing on the new habit. The 6 Changes are all about improving life, after all, so I see them as layering on top of each other as you progress.

And that means the flood sensation will dissipate over time as you keep working at better spending habits.

You can be really proud, friend.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm also reminding myself I can revisit this issue again at a time when I have more experience and perspective to draw upon.