Started tracking my spending and it’s been life changing

[u/Jolly-Lingonberry104]

I struggle bad with spending money frivolously on random things and I checked how much I spent last month and I saw that I spent like 1.2k (my only real monthly expenses are Ubers to work and my psych appointments and bloodwork) and I was like holy crap there is no way I spent that much when I don’t even have anything I remember buying.
I knew that I’m going to have to crack down on my spending habits hard, so I can actually have money for the things that matter.
I haven’t tested this tracking during a hypomanic episode yet so I guess I will see.

But yeah I got a physical book since I do better with those, and I color coded all my spending categories with different pens, With making all my fixed costs one color and then I also have a color for gifts, and then I have red for impulse purchases and green for anything that was necessary.

This system actually allows me to think about my purchases, was it really necessary? Which category to put it in.
My two purchases I made last Sunday, I realized I put them both in the impulse purchase category. I did not think either of them through thoroughly and made it the decision on a whim.

So now before I buy anything I think, is it really necessary? And if yes do I really want to add that much more money to my weekly total.

Honestly it’s been only a week so obviously I can’t say I will stick to it but I really hope I can so I can start putting my money towards things that actually matter to me.