Have you woken up one day, looked around and wondered where all the debt came from? What have you got to show for the multiple credit card balances, student loans, and empty bank accounts?
Are you feeling ready to take the proverbial bull by the horns and start cleaning up this financial mess you’ve found yourself in?
Feeling overwhelmed about how to get started? Don’t fret….we are going to walk through this together.
I have been where you are, I have felt how you feel and I have lived to talk type about it! By now you have your money mindset on point and you are ready to get started!
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The next step is to get out your trusty pen and paper and get to werkkk!
Much like they say about losing weight, so is cleaning up your finances.
This is going to take patience and time. This didn’t just happen overnight?! Your current financial life is a culmination of months, years, maybe even decades of bad decisions.
It took time to get yourself to this place and it’s going to take time and lots of hard work to get yourself out! Just so we are clear….this is going to take HARD WORK [repeating for dramatic effect], but please believe me when I tell you it will be SO worth it!
What is financial inventory?
In order to get off on the right foot, it is imperative to get a solid picture of what you are working with.
Warning: this can be really emotional. Put on your big girl panties, grab your notebook, calculator and maybe a strong drink! This won’t take long but it is a very important step.
If you have a spouse/partner on board ask them to join you for this as it will be to your benefit to work as a team!
1 | Total your bills
Get all your bills together, write them all down. Every single recurring monthly bill. (not credit cards yet) Any car leases, utilities, child support, alimony, and any other obligations that are monthly.
Just list the bill and the amount. For any loans, we are focusing ONLY on the minimum payments due at this time.
2 | Total your debts
Next, you are going to list all your debt! All of it. Get the TOTAL outstanding balance at this time. *take a few sips of your drink if needed*.
Be sure to also include any deferred student loans, credit cards with 0% interest, anything that you owe to somebody else should go here.
Any mortgages on any properties except your primary residence belong here as well. Total it all up. *breathe*
3 | Total your assets
Head to your assets now. Get the balance of any and all NON-retirement accounts and investments.
Anything that is already in a retirement account will incur large penalties if withdrawn early so we want to leave those alone!
We do, however, want to include any [non-retirement] single stocks, mutual funds, cash value of any whole-life insurance policies, checking accounts, savings accounts and any shoe-boxes-filled-with-cash under the bed!
Be sure to add up each column and that’s it! This is a simple exercise but it can be really emotional!
Maybe your situation is more dire than you realized (boo), or maybe it’s not as bad as you had initially thought (yay)!?
Either way, if you aren’t clear on where you are starting out it will be hard to develop a clear plan for where to go!
When I first did this exercise one night while B was at work I felt like my throat was closing up and I couldn’t breathe.
My anxiety was at an all-time high and when I saw that big $35,000 at the bottom of the “debt column” and the big fat zero at the bottom of the “asset column” I felt so hopeless.
I had never really added up all our debt and those numbers, in ink, staring back at me were like a slap in the face. That was it. That was rock bottom. We really had nowhere to go but up….so up we went!
And so will you 🙂 Have you gone through this process before? Were you shocked or already pretty clear on your current financials? Don’t forget to check out my new Begin to Budget Bundle to help you get started budgeting today!
Great financial tips! I am always worried about financial security. Thanks for the information.
I know! It can be scary when you’re not feeling secure, but so great once you are!
Great advice–I think the best thing I’ve ever done for my own finances is to write everything down.
Absolutely!!
I’m totally subscribing to your blog. I need a refresh on finances. I totally agree that this is necessary, but we’ve gotten distracted lately. Thank you so much for the reminder!!
Great, Jennifer! So happy to have you!
It is so good to do this, even though it is scary! We did the same thing a few years ago and it really helped to set us on the right road.
That’s great Lisa!
Great article! It’s so important to take an honest look at where you stand; hiding won’t solve anything. Thanks for the reminder to look at things with honesty!
It can be really tough but if you don’t know you won’t have a true starting point!
Thanks for the great info!
Anytime Joanne 🙂
This is a nice breakdown that makes it feel manageable (if still scary!)!
Way more manageable!
it can be such a simple thing to do, but so hard to get motivated to do it. i love how to break it down and make it much less intimidating!
I agree, when you break it into smaller steps, it’s easier to get through!
Great tips! Financial security is so important!
Thanks, Traci…agreed!
I’ve been working so hard on my finances lately and though I’m scared to see where we are at with this, I know that it’s important to just do it and start working to fix it!
You have to start somewhere! Maybe you’re better off thank you think!
Is it okay of I take many gulps over sips of my drink while adding up my debt? (Lol) very good suggestions here! I’m going to print the worksheet and follow your steps (with a big bottle of wine, heck with the glass, right!)
hahaha absolutely! Whatever it takes to get the job done 🙂
Helpful info. Thanks. So good for people to know how to do this.
Thanks Jennifer, I agree, it’s so important to really have to a clear financial picture!
What a great challenge! Will definitely use those worksheets 🙂
Glad to hear, Celeste!
Moving towards paying off debt is a good feeling. The hard work and self-control pays off in the long run for financial security.
The BEST feeling!!
I’ve recently taken my financial inventory. I’m working on getting out of debt.
Totally is 🙂
Great plan for taking my financial inventory. Thanks!
Thanks, Carmen!
This is helpful! Thanks so much for the insight – it helps to ease some of the stress!
It absolutely will Gina!
Good tips!
🙂
My husband and I just did this literally 2 weeks ago! We decided we wanted to make some long term financial goals and this was the first step in the process. What an eye opener! Thanks for the info and being real about it!
That’s great Jacqueline, glad to hear!
Great post, Kristin! This will certainly help people who are in debt get started with taking control of their money situation. I like the way you lightened up a difficult topic for people!
Thank you, Sheree!!
LOVE THIS. I am a financial nut after doing a DR program several years ago. Loved reading this and your worksheets!!
Whitney isn’t it funny how much he changes your perspective!?
This is often an overwhelming start for many people! I like how you broke it down into simple categories.
Thank you, Lisa, yes, it can be really overwhelming!
I really need to do this, but just thinking about it makes me anxious. Thanks for sharing how to do it right.
I understand, Kamie, but give it a shot! You really can’t make a plan until you know where you’re starting from!
Great read. Debt can often build so fast you don’t know where it’s all coming from. It is amazing the amount of people who don’t have a handle on their finances. I love the idea of a free printable sheet. The visual sure makes a difference.
You’re so right, it’s pretty crazy!?