It is simply keeping the expenses on the left rows, the time period on the columns (week, month), and keeping a running tally carried over to the next column at

It is simply keeping the expenses on the left rows, the time period on the columns (week, month), and keeping a running tally carried over to the next column at top. Sounds simple, but it is a powerful tool, since you see when you might actually dip to zero or below way before it happens, and you can plan. Simple keeping a balanced checkbook and writing your known expenses, is necessary, but does not provide the look ahead. You'd be surprised how many people who make more than 6 figures get caught short some months when for the year they're OK, but due to the ins and outs of cash flow, they are at a deficit one day or week out of the month. You can find plenty of templates online. I keep mine simple as compared to what my past business accounting was. I am hoping to get more deeply financially literate when it comes to things like investments for my future (kind of late now, and a fallout of how I was raised), but more so that I can at least teach all of my children. I don't subscribe to the work and retire model. I personally work to make ends meet, and work on my personal interests at night, or when I stop working and live cheap to devote more effort to the next round.