For most people, financial health doesn’t depend on how much they earn, but
how much they spend. To help you find out where your money is going, the next
three steps involve tracking expenses. You will start with identifying variable
expenses. Variable expenses are those that vary from month to month, such
as clothing and food. You have the most amount of control over these types
of expenses.
To help you identify your variable expenses, print and carry this Record of Daily Expenditures. Carry this form (or a simple
notebook) with you and record every penny you spend—even if it’s only
a soft drink from the convenience store, or a trip to the drive-thru at a fast food
restaurant.
While tracking variable expenses is only one of the 30 steps, you are encouraged
to continue tracking expenses well beyond the time it takes to complete the 30 step
plan. The longer you track expenses, the better your chances of success.