Habit-Based Financial Management - Answers and Advice

Habit-Based Financial Management

from the "answers and advice" series

by Skip Pulley

If you're a millennial or Gen Y,Z,A, there is a high likelihood that you are going to find 

 planners, calendars and bank statements overwhelming in some sense. 

This is because a personal environment "structure" is actually repulsive to you 

on an unconscious level, due to predictive (media) programming, 

the conditioning stimuli of modern (western) society, 

the plastic/petrochemical content in the food (in the US)

and your reliance on AI devices* (see footnote). 

The good news is, you don't have to use that as a reason to embrace disorder and chaos in your personal environment or negligence in your personal saving and expenses. 

I want those of you who are good human beings to be happy, healthy and productive. Sometimes, that involves harsh critique. It should. That is how we learn what not to do. 

A couple of years ago, I began to see those ads for the phone apps (loaded with spyware) in which people voluntarily input their personal financial information and literally give permission to the app to manage their sensitive personal information data - while giving an "app" limited power of attorney (according to the terms of service). At first, I couldn't believe how stupid these people were. Banks and checking account companies offer account and spending alerts for free, in addition to the fact that if you can do basic math, you would know that extra money is going in/coming out of your account when you see the balance, as your total balance would be more or less than it was previously. 

The commercials for these services feature poorly-acted example scenarios showing young people who apparently had no idea they were literally being billed for various goods and services "unintentionally" every single month, as if bank statements didn't exist or their electronic expenses were somehow being kept secret from them. As I was thinking to myself how dumb someone must be to have that level of personal negligence, I began to reconsider, at least somewhat. By taking into consideration social conditioning, phone addiction, fast-food diets and below-average parenting, I gained some insight and empathy for the younger generation. I now feel that I judged them too harshly, at least in part.

These are the same people who are afraid to make phone calls, or eye contact, or learn basic procedures of finance, economy or personal planning and management. If  someone is unable to watch an informational or training video (that they can't fast forward through) without rocking back and forth uncontrollably or if they freak out after a few seconds of uninterrupted silence, it stands to reason that they wouldn't take 15 to 20 seconds to eyeball an online statement that explains how much money they actually spend each month and where exactly it goes. I decided that I should do something to help them naturally reclaim control over their daily routine which includes expenses.

Please do not think that I am picking on younger people exclusively. I can assure you that I have met an alarming number of boomers and gen-xers who, despite being alive for half a century, are as dumb as dirt. I am here to help whomever would appreciate it. By all means feel free to ignore me or disagree with my advice, but hopefully you can take away a few ideas that may help you with your short and long term goals.

A visual or habit-based method can fit naturally into everyday life. 

Here are some ways you can keep track of you weekly goals without creating 

an official task-management system. By focusing on small, consistent habits, 

you can train yourself over time to balance your personal life 

while working toward your goals. 

1. Simple Expense Tracking (Without Apps)

The "Notes App" Method: Create a simple list in your phone’s built-in Notes or Notes app. Label it "Expenses [Month]" and write down every expense as it happens. This takes seconds and requires no complex categorization.
Physical Receipt Ledger: Keep every receipt in a dedicated bag or physical envelope. At the end of the week, take 10 minutes to write them down in a notebook. This tangible method keeps you connected to your spending and makes it harder to ignore.
The 30-Second Spreadsheet: Use Google Sheets or Excel to log daily purchases. With your morning coffee, take 30 seconds to enter yesterday's purchases. Set the sheet to automatically subtract from your total budget so you always see your remaining balance.
Focus on the "Variable" Only: Don't track rent or utilities. Track only variable spending (food, fun, shopping) by using a "Cash Flow Monitoring" log for only your discretionary cash.

2. Low-Stress Saving Techniques, or "Pay Yourself First" Automation

Before paying bills or spending, set up automatic transfers to a separate savings account (ideally a high-yield savings account) the day after you get paid. If the money isn't in your checking account, you won't spend it.
The 24-Hour Rule: For any non-essential purchase, force yourself to wait 24 hours. This curbs impulsive spending, allowing you to re-evaluate if the item is truly needed.
Set Micro-Savings Goals: Instead of a massive "save $5,000" goal, aim for "save $50 for a concert ticket." Make it fun, not stressful.
Visual Savings: Use physical, labeled envelopes for cash (envelope method). Once the money in an envelope runs out, you stop spending in that category, making it easy to track without digital logs.

3. Managing Without Intrusive Apps - The 50/30/20 Rule (Percentage-Based) 

Instead of budgeting every penny, split your income into three broad buckets: 50% for Needs, 30% for Wants, 20% for Savings. This provides structure without micromanagement.
Use Debit Over Credit: Using a debit card makes it harder to overspend because you cannot spend more than you have, acting as a natural, non-controlling limit.
Monthly "Money Date": Set aside 30 minutes once a month to review your bank statements to check for subscriptions you forgot and to see if you are meeting your savings goals.
Find an Accountability Partner: Ask a trusted friend or family member to check in on your goals once a month, which adds accountability without the pressure of a digital assistant.

 
By focusing on these manual techniques, you can gain a clear understanding of your financial flow without the headache of constant recordkeeping, the stress of personal interaction or the insecurity and intrusion of AI apps.

Skip Pulley

Kahuna Life

FOOTNOTE:

*research and sociological analysis suggest that the popularity of many apps is driven by a desire to manage, avoid, or curate emotions in response to the pressures of modern society. As societal life becomes more demanding, apps provide a "digital emotional regulation" tool that allows users to seek comfort, distraction, or controlled connection.