I know what I’m saying is probably controversial, but hear me out. The goal of tracking and writing down shouldn’t be endless. I think of it like a data collection process; I do it every month, but I don’t stress about it. The data helps me understand my financial mindset and make better decisions. But if you’re tracking every penny forever, what kind of life is that?
Not being funny, but if you want to stick to a budget, how do you do that without tracking your spending? Why wouldn’t that be a good idea if it helps you stay on track?
If you have a lifestyle where you can set aside 1000 euros every month, enjoy life and just save the rest at the end of the month. There’s no need to track every penny. The only times it’s really necessary are when you have drastic life changes or if you want to optimize every single penny.
Who has 1000 euros to enjoy themselves every month? If I want nice things, I have to save up for them. I keep my spending within preset bounds. If you own your own home, you need to save for future expenses. Everyone also needs to save for retirement. If tracking your spending causes you anxiety, that’s fine, but it doesn’t mean it applies to everyone.
Before I bought my house, I lived in an apartment with manageable costs. We put aside money and enjoyed life our own way. Now that we have a house with larger expenses and kids, I do have to track almost every penny, but it doesn’t have to be that way all the time.