Money always flowed through my fingers as a teenager. I'd receive my paycheck from work and before the next payday I was broke again and asking my parents for gas money. Overall, I was a responsible kid. But when it came to me and money, I just couldn't get a handle on it.
After I graduated from high school, I moved quite a few miles away to college. Take a responsible kid and remove them from their parents and there may be a chance that said kid could go wild and throw all caution to the wind. With an embarrassed smile, I admit that I was one of those said kids.
Social events took priority over classes, jobs and money. College was one big party and I was living the party life. That is, until I received a letter at the beginning of third quarter that I will never forget. In a nutshell, the letter said shape up or ship out.
I didn't want to leave college. I did really want a degree and I didn't want to leave my friends. So I set about getting my act together.
I retook classes that I had failed before. I worked hard at work and progressed to a management position. And probably one of the greatest moves I made for my financial life was to start using the Quicken program preinstalled on my computer.
As I entered in my paychecks and then recorded each withdrawal, I entered categories to start tracking my money. Instead of wondering if I would bounce checks, I could say with 100% certainty that I wouldn't be bouncing checks. I could see money coming in and money going out. I felt a sense of empowerment whenever I opened my file and entered information.
Fast forward to today. I ended up graduating from college with honors, married my best friend from college and have a wonderful son. Unfortunately, I have had some very rocky financial times due to life hardships and I have a bit of debt to show for it. But throughout it all, I've made every payment on time and my credit score is excellent. I know for a fact that if I didn't have Quicken my financial situation would have been very different today.
I can see now when bills need to be paid and I can see if I have the funds to pay them. I can see where my money is going and I know whether I need to reduce spending in some areas.
My money does go in and out of my accounts, but it is no longer slipping through my fingers. It is all planned and my money has a purpose. That purpose is for a financially secure future, and I know Quicken will help me get there.
