Kimi is having a "I can always make more tomorrow" attitude towards money. When she took the job she has, we had a discussion about finances and she agreed that saving was important. I guess the joy of having a paycheck has gone to her head because she can't seem to keep much of the money.

 

 I think it's normal to take awhile to adjust to the idea of making what seems like a lot of money to a kids. My two youngest both went through stages where all they did was blow money, but they're both pretty much back on the band wagon now.

Tracking is definitely important because it gives you a better idea of what will happen in the future - it sort of a "history repeats" itself thing.

 The trick is having a way to use this information so you can easily understand what the cash in you checking account is for before you spend it on something that is not a priority in your spending plan. 

 

Bill:

Tracking is definitely important because it gives you a better idea of what will happen in the future - it sort of a "history repeats" itself thing.

 The trick is having a way to use this information so you can easily understand what the cash in you checking account is for before you spend it on something that is not a priority in your spending plan. 

 

Good point.

Just having the information doesn't do much good if you can't incorporate it efficiently into a spending (or saving) plan.  

Brandy:

 LOL! It got here yesterday. I wanted to look it over before posting about it.

 It looks as handy as it does on the site.

It does fold out to be able to have enough room to have all the categories. This has drawbacks. For those who are impatient and don't like bother and fuss, it may cause them to skip writing a transaction when they are in a rush. I can see my husband and daughter doing this. Because of the folds, I suspect there are less pages than a conventional register but the product is sold in sets of three. 

There is a book that offers not only instructions but some budgeting advice as well. I will be having my daughter read this over.

I haven't worked out how I want to set up the categories yet nor have we determined how this will be the most useful to my husband.

 

 

Did you get your categories set up in BudgetMap, Brandy? I'm curious about how it's going to work. Is it one sheet of paper? I couldn't tell from the pictures on the site.

 I did get the categories done and I have been using it to track expenses. I do like this method but I will say that it's not as easy to see the numbers because the additions/subtractions are in the same column as the totals. I found a way to make the total stand out though.

The pages are in a tri-fold that have to be unfolded to properly use. What I have been doing is when I make a purchase using my bank account, I put the amount in the main column and wait until I am in the car to balance and adjust the budget columns.

 

 So how's it working out so far? Is your daughter using it?

I'm really curious about this because it looks like it would work so very well. I'm thinking of getting one myself and that's a biggie for me. I don't like the feeling of being controlled, (as in "having to" fill in the blanks) but sometimes a little control is good.

 It doesn't feel like filling in the blanks at all. It's pretty much a register much like any that comes with a checkbook except it's extended to allow for budgeting categories.

I am really liking the experience. I am finding less money is just drizzling off and I am seeing savings for certain things growing.

 

Brandy:

I am finding less money is just drizzling off and I am seeing savings for certain things growing.

That's a convincing point, thanks. Was it hard to get used to, or is it not that much different from a checkbook register?  

Dear Brandy, You probably already told us the answer to this question,  but I am still confused.  I know that you wanted your daughter to be able to use the Budget Map (name?) with you, but is your husband using it too?  How do they feel about it?  How are you reconciling what each of you spend?