Nancy Zimmerman of Your Money by Design shares some quick tips to help sort and organize your money financial affairs.

1. Define the purpose of your money.

It may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised. If you think about it, is your money supporting your current lifestyle? What are your objectives? Are you saving for retirement? Are you trying to reach a short-term goal like a vacation? Do you want to increase your charitable donations? A combination? What kind of combination? Getting that sorted out is the first step in organizing your money.

2. Set aside a regular time to organize your money.

We set aside time for eating, exercising (well, maybe), hanging out with friends, heck, we even set massive time aside to earn our money. Set aside time, at least 30 minutes each week, to involve yourself with your money. Check to see if your actual use of funds is consistent with your purpose for it defined as above.

3. Equip yourself with tools.

There are lots of ways to make organizing your finances more manageable. We can do better than a shoebox full of receipts! Our business, Out of Chaos, has several suggestions for handling financial paperwork and electronic files. Software packages like Quicken, Microsoft Money or Excel can simplify how you keep track of your cash flow. Online banking can automate most bill-paying tasks.

4. Celebrate.

Being organized with your money will result in confidence and a sense of control. Even better, it may well lead to prosperity. Celebrate!

Need assistance organizing your wallet, purse, or financial files? Contact Out of Chaos today. We’d love to hear from you.

Image by KMR Photography on Flickr