WTF Does All Your Money Go?

Where does all my money go?

Where does all my money go? Sex, drugs and rock-n-roll, baby! You may not think you have a rockstar life, but a spending analysis will prove otherwise. We dare you to find out when you grab your copy of the Premium Spending Analysis.

Are you always running out of money?

If, like us, you’re as obsessive about your money as Joan Crawford was about hangers (no wire ones, ever!), then it’s time to take a hard look at your financial situation. We’ve been there. When we sat down to analyze our spending over the past 12 months, it quickly became a “Debt Free or Bust” moment for most of us.

Maybe, like us, you’ve asked yourself, *Why does it feel like I’m treading water when I should be thriving?* You’re making good money, yet your life feels more blah than Beyoncé at Coachella. You compare yourself to your friends—making about the same—and wonder why their lives seem more *NSYNC while yours is stuck in the 98 Degrees lane. (They’re fine, but no one’s putting them on replay.)

It’s frustrating. Month after month, you’re left wondering why there’s more month than money. You feel like you’re doing something wrong, but you can’t quite put your finger on it. It’s like a sinister plot twist you didn’t see coming but can’t escape.

The good news? You’re not alone, and there’s a way out. It starts with checking your spending, identifying where your dollars are ghosting you, and planning to get them back in line. Trust us—your future self (and your wallet) will thank you.

Eyes wide shut

If you’ve got a good job with solid benefits and you’re making what looks like “real money” (at least on paper), but you still feel stuck in a financial rut and can’t figure out where your cash is disappearing, you’re probably spending unconsciously.

Think of it like this: When you’ve just cracked open a new tub of American Crew hair product, you’re practically slathering it on like it’s free. But when you’re scraping the bottom of the jar, suddenly you’re a conservationist, rationing it out like it’s liquid gold. Why? Because you hate making that Target run to replace it—especially since no one just buys one thing at Target. (Seriously, how do those $10 trips turn into $150 receipts?)

When we dug into our spending habits, we had a few *WTH!?* moments ourselves. Turns out, we were blowing way too much money on things like alcohol and our social lives. Those “quick” happy hours that always turned into four-hour marathons. We bought clothes we didn’t need (and let’s be honest, we couldn’t afford them) just because they were *on sale.* And dining out like we were trying to keep Yelp in business, even though our fridge was bursting at the seams and we were dropping $400 a week on groceries.

The result? Our checking account was giving “near-death experience” vibes every single month. Despite making decent money, we weren’t good with it. This is the exact opposite of being money-conscious. It’s like starring in a sitcom that’s all struggle and no laugh track—your life feels more Friends than Golden Girls, and not in the good “pivot!” way.

The fix? Start spending with intention. Know where your money is going, and ensure it works for you—not against you. It’s time to stop treating your finances like that nearly empty tub of hair product and start giving your dollars some direction.

Knowing Joe is only half the battle

You can know Joe. But what’s the point if you don’t do anything with him? (And we’re not just talking about your gym buddy who continually flakes on leg day.) The same goes for your money—it’s not enough to know it’s there. You’ve got to put it to work.

Here’s how to get started: gather every account statement you have—credit cards, investments, checking, debit, all of it. Then, track every single expense from the last six to 12 months. Yes, every transaction. Put it all on a worksheet and uncover where your hard-earned cash has been sneaking off to while you weren’t looking.

Let’s be honest: This exercise isn’t laborious but requires some time and commitment. We tackled it during a rainy, cold weekend. (What else were we going to do? Garden?) We carved out a few hours on Saturday and a few more on Sunday, and we finished it.

The payoff? If you take the time to do this properly, it’s as eye-opening as time-consuming. You’ll learn a lot about your financial habits—like how that daily $5 latte habit adds up to $1,825 a year. (Yes, that one stung for us, too.) And in most cases, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to make changes that can lead to paying off debt faster or even building savings.

So, yes, this exercise might feel tedious at first, but trust us: it’s like cleaning out your closet. Once you’ve sorted through the mess, you’ll feel lighter, more in control, and ready to slay those financial goals. Let’s get to work!

Where DOES all my money go?

Knowing your spending habits will be a total eye-opener. If you’re anything like us (and let’s be real, you probably are), you’ll start to see patterns—some you might not even realize were there. Is your money vanishing into a black hole of a few wasteful categories? Are you prioritizing short-term pleasures over spending that aligns with your bigger goals and values?

This exercise will spotlight where your money is going and help you identify the changes that can make the most significant impact. The goal isn’t necessarily to overhaul your entire budget overnight (because who has the energy for that?). Instead, you might discover that a few minor adjustments can free up significant cash toward paying off debt, saving for that dream car, or finally getting serious about that condo down payment.

When we did this, we didn’t need a complete financial makeover—we just had to cut back on a few key areas. For us, that meant saying goodbye to weekly wine stock-ups, scaling back on dining out (RIP, overpriced appetizers), and pausing on buying expensive clothes we didn’t need.

It turns out those little cuts added up fast. Once we refocused our spending on things that mattered—like becoming debt-free and saving for our future—our finances started to feel way less chaotic and more purposeful.

This isn’t about deprivation but making your money work for you. So, grab a highlighter (or a glass of water if you’re ditching wine, too), and start spotting the patterns in your spending. Your future self will thank you!

The rockstar you are

Knowing where your money goes doesn’t mean you have to turn in your rockstar card—it’s the key to leveling up your VIP status in life. That’s the beauty of purpose-driven spending: it’s not about cutting out everything you love. It’s about spending intentionally on the things that truly add value to your life so you can, in turn, get more value out of it.

Here’s the truth: when you don’t know where your money is going, it’s like being the lead guitarist strumming out of tune—you’re still playing, but it’s not hitting the right notes. Once you figure out what you’re spending and why, you can redirect your cash toward what matters, whether crushing your debt, building a dream savings account, or finally taking that bucket-list vacation.

The secret sauce? Clarity. You can’t align your spending with your goals if you don’t know where your money is sneaking off in the first place. By tracking your expenses and spotlighting your habits, you’ll feel more in control and start making decisions that feel right for you.

So don’t worry—you can still live the life of a rockstar, just one who knows where their royalties are going. Purpose-driven spending isn’t about saying “no” to life’s fun moments; it’s about saying “yes” to the ones that matter.

What should you do?

Whether you’re dipping your toes into financial change at the 50% “just stick the tip in” phase or are 100% ready to dive in headfirst, it’s time to take action. Download our spending analysis worksheet and see if you aren’t fully committed (or at least a little obsessed) with getting your financial act together. And no, we’re not pulling your leg—this is the real deal.

Here’s the game plan: “Complete” means itemizing six to 12 months of ALL your spending. Yes, every single transaction. The good, the bad, and the ugly. David’s a pro at this—he does it regularly. The first time? It took hours. Now? It’s a quick process (though sometimes it still requires an extra coffee or two).

Why bother? Because we know this exercise will fix your financial situation. It’s like Marie Kondo-ing your money: you’ll discover exactly where your cash is going, what’s sparking joy, and what’s draining your wallet. It’s an eye-opening, sit-up-straight moment that puts you back in control.

So, what are you waiting for? Just do it! (Nike doesn’t have a trademark for controlling your money.) Your future self—and your bank account—will thank you.

Make this easier. Grab the Premium Spending Analysis in the 5 Freedoms Accelerator.

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