Confessions of a Money Guru: Know Your Numbers

If there’s one thing I’ve learned on my financial journey, it’s this: what gets measured, gets managed. Too many people avoid looking at their finances because they’re afraid of what they’ll find. But here’s the truth—you can’t change what you don’t acknowledge.

Knowing your numbers is the first step to financial freedom. When you take the time to put everything in black and white, you gain control. You stop guessing. You stop hoping. You start making real moves toward financial success.

Let’s break it down step by step so you can start getting real about your money today.

Step 1: Look at Last Month’s Bank Statement

Grab a bank statement from the last full month. This is where we get the raw, unfiltered truth. No more estimating. No more assuming.

Print it out, highlight it, or download it into a spreadsheet—whatever works for you. The goal is to see where your money actually went versus where you think it went.

Step 2: Identify Your Fixed Expenses

Fixed expenses are the ones that stay the same every month, no matter what. These include:

✔️ Rent or mortgage
✔️ Car payment
✔️ Insurance (car, health, home, life, etc.)
✔️ Utilities (electricity, water, internet, phone)
✔️ Loan payments (student loans, personal loans)
✔️ Subscriptions (Netflix, gym memberships, music streaming, etc.)

Write these down so you know exactly how much of your income is already spoken for before the month even starts.

Step 3: Tally Up Your Variable Expenses

These are the expenses that fluctuate each month—things like:

💰 Groceries
🍽️ Restaurants & takeout
⛽ Gas
🎉 Entertainment
🛍️ Shopping

Look at each category and total up what you spent. Be honest with yourself. You might be shocked at how much is leaking out of your account every month without you realizing it.

Step 4: Find the Money Wasters

This is where the real eye-opening moments happen. Scan your statement for:

❌ Subscriptions you forgot about or don’t use anymore
❌ Unfamiliar charges (fraud happens more often than you think!)
❌ Random spending that doesn’t align with your financial goals

Cancel anything that’s unnecessary. Those $9.99 charges may seem small, but they add up fast!

Step 5: Know Your Income

It’s shocking how many people don’t know their actual take-home income. Not your salary—your after-tax, after-deductions, actual amount that hits your bank account each month.

If you have irregular income (like gig work, commissions, or side hustles), look at your lowest month in the last six months and plan around that.

Step 6: Know Your Debt

List out every single debt you owe, including:

📌 Credit cards (with interest rates!)
📌 Student loans
📌 Car loans
📌 Personal loans
📌 Medical bills
📌 Any other outstanding balances

This isn’t to scare you—it’s to empower you. Once you see the full picture, you can start making a plan to tackle it.

Step 7: Know Your Due Dates

Late fees and missed payments are credit score killers. Make a list of every bill and when it’s due. Set reminders on your phone or automate payments if you can.

Being organized with your due dates can save you from unnecessary fees and stress.

Step 8: Know Your Credit Score (But That’s Another Story)

Your credit score is your financial report card, but we’ll dive deeper into that in another post. For now, just know that the better you manage your numbers, the better your score will be.

Why This Matters

When you know your numbers, you stop living paycheck to paycheck. You stop feeling like your money is controlling you. Instead, you take control.

A written plan—in black and white—gives you clarity. It helps you make smarter decisions. It shows you exactly what needs to change so you can reach your financial goals faster.

If you're ready to take it a step further, let me help you create your Ultimate Money Plan. We start soon! Sign up here for a private and confidential money chat: bit.ly/awfschat

The bottom line? Know your numbers. Know your power. 💪💰