"Is it the one that calculates automatically?" How a senior colleague's comment changed my household budget management | Learning from the Money University about managing through systems

That conversation happened while traveling for a business trip.

It was during travel time on a business trip with a senior colleague.

In the course of casual conversation, we started talking about household budget management.

"Do you keep a household account book?"

That was the comment from my senior colleague.

After thinking for a moment, I answered like this.

"I do use an app to keep track of it, for now."

My senior colleague continued.

"Is it the one that calculates automatically?"

"No, it's manual entry. It's actually quite a hassle every time."

My senior colleague laughed a little and said this.

"I used to do manual entry too, but doesn't that method never last?"

"That's true, but I'm somehow managing to keep at it for now."

As I answered that, deep down, it hit the nail on the head.

Actually, I could never keep it up

To be honest, at that time, I wasn't keeping up with household budget management at all.

There were times I wrote it by hand in a notebook.
There were times I entered it manually into an app.

But none of them lasted long.

"It's a hassle."
"I'll do it later."

While thinking things like that, before I knew it, I had stopped halfway through.

It was just a cycle of this.

While I would say, "I'm managing somehow," deep down, I felt quite guilty.

Two things my senior colleague taught me

As if sensing something, my senior colleague said this:

"This app is great."

What they introduced to me was "Money Forward ME." It is an app that automatically aggregates your expenses once you link your bank accounts and credit cards.

Basically, it meant that manual entry was no longer necessary. And my senior colleague introduced one more thing: a book.

It was "Money University" by Ryogakucho.

"If you want to study money, this one is easy to understand."

That one comment became the catalyst for changing how I, as a dad, approach money.

Later, when I read the book, I found that Money Forward ME was actually introduced in the chapter on the "Power to Save."

For that reason, household budget management is essential.

After reading the book, I felt that way all over again.

What changed after I started using it

At first, I was a little anxious about linking my bank accounts and credit cards. But when I actually used it, it was surprisingly easy.

Once you link them, everything is aggregated automatically. The hassle of manual entry disappeared as if it were a lie.

Even without making detailed settings, it is fully usable from the start. Once you get used to it, you can customize it to be easier to view in your own way. The operation itself is intuitive, and I have never felt it was difficult.

I, who had repeatedly started and quit keeping a budget many times before, have kept using this app ever since I started.

"If you create a system, it will last."

It was an experience where I felt that firsthand.

To my children | I want you to manage money through systems

To you both.

When you live your life, many expenses arise.

Food, utilities, communication costs, insurance premiums. Even if each one is small, they add up to a large amount when accumulated.

If you try to manage that manually, it takes time and effort. You get sick of the hassle and end up unable to continue.

Dad was stuck in that cycle for a long time.

But you know, in this day and age, there are ways to manage things through systems.

Using apps that can automatically link with bank accounts and credit cards. Just by doing that, the flow of money becomes visible naturally.

So that you don't struggle with money in the future, I want you to have the perspective of "managing through systems" from an early age.I hope you will have the perspective of "managing through systems" from an early age.I hope you will have the perspective of "managing through systems" from an early age.

Dad might still be doing manual entries today if it weren't for that one comment from my senior colleague.

I want you to remember that.

So that you can lead a life where you don't struggle with money. I want to keep learning and sharing what I've learned with you.

Dad is always rooting for you.

That was,
"Is there something that tracks it automatically?" How my household management changed with one comment from a senior colleague | Learning from the University of Money about managing through systems
.

The end.

To you both
— HondaYori Papa

※The ideas behind this article and how to manage household finances and approach money learned from books are summarized on the blog "Book Letters from Dad".
The ideas behind this article and how to manage household finances and approach money learned from books are summarized on the blog "Book Letters from Dad".
The ideas behind this article and how to manage household finances and approach money learned from books are summarized on the blog "Book Letters from Dad".

👉Blog "Book Letters from Dad"

*Click here for the article that served as the basis for this idea
👉"Revised Edition: The University of Money to Gain True Freedom" Summary/Impressions | "Financial Wisdom and 5 Powers to Live Freely" [Book News from Dad]

*This story is part of the theme "Living with Money."
By reading it as a connection rather than as isolated points,
you will deepen your understanding of money so you aren't swayed by anxiety.

👉 Read articles summarizing how to approach money

👉 See the bookshelf summarizing books that teach how to think about money

*I have also recorded the 7 themes that Dad values on the blog.

👉 Read "The 7 Learning Maps" that Dad learned from

(Note: About tips)

If this article has sparked any thoughts or served as a small step toward action, your support via tips will be the strength to write the next article.

Please feel free to contribute only within your means.