Hey there.

Ever get to the end of the month, you look at your bank account and

you just wonder, where did it all go?

If you feel like your money just vanishes into thin air today, we're

talking about the simple first step to finding out exactly where it's going.

Hey there and welcome back.

Thanks for making time for your daily dose of financial

encouragement rooted in faith.

I'm Ralph, and we're moving right along in our series, the Joy of Living Below

Your Means all with the goal of helping you break that cycle of financial shame.

And do it with confidence.

Why sir? Hope yesterday's focus on gratitude was a blessing for you.

So let's talk about that common frustration.

You know, that feeling like you should have money left over,

but somehow you just don't.

Maybe you and your spouse have disagreements about spending

because neither of you really knows where the money's truly going.

Or perhaps you just feel completely outta control.

Like small purchases here and small purchases there, and they're bleeding.

You dry.

But you can't quite pinpoint where they are.

It's that feeling of confusion.

It's that lack of awareness.

It's kind of like trying to drive somewhere new without even having

a map or, or GPS for that matter.

It's that feeling of being in the dark about your own financial

spending habits, the mystery of the disappearing money, if you will.

That's the single pain point we're tackling on today's show, because it

makes managing money feel impossible.

But here's the thing, I. You gotta understand this.

We can't manage what we don't measure.

See, as Christians, we're called to be good stewards of the

resources that God entrusts to us.

Think of it from the parable of the talents in Matthew 25,

where the manager in Luke 16.

But how can we be good stewards if we're not even of aware of

where those resources are flowing?

We're operating in the dark and it financially leads to stress.

It prevents us from making wise decisions, and it can even

lead to unintentional waste.

Well, let's look at Ephesians five because it encourages us to live as children of

light, and that includes bringing our financial habits into the light as well.

So how do we switch the lights on?

How do we solve this specific pain point of being ignorant about our own spending?

The single foundational solution is simply track.

You gotta track where your money's going and just do it for a short period of time.

And listen, we're not talking about budgeting yet.

We're not talking about restrictions.

We're not talking about judgment.

This is purely about observation and awareness.

It's kinda like a detective gathering clues for just one week.

You become a financial detective for your own life.

You're probably asking Ralph, why does this even work?

Well, let me tell you why.

First, it removes the mystery.

No more guessing.

You're gonna see exactly where every dollar went.

Second, it's gonna reveal patterns.

Your likely spot habits you didn't even realize you had, like that

daily coffee or those small online purchases that add up over time.

Third thing it does, it provides data.

This information is crucial for making informed decisions later

about where you might wanna cut back.

And finally, it brings awareness.

See, often the simple act of tracking makes you more mindful before you do that.

Spending see the solution is illumination.

Track your spending.

Okay, so ready for your one practical action step starting today.

Here's what I want you to do for the next seven days, I want you to commit to this.

I want you to write down every single dollar you spend.

Get a small notebook you can carry or, or use a notes app on your

phone, whatever works for you.

That $3 coffee, that dollar and a half for the vending machine, that

$20 online purchase when you fill up for gas, when you get the groceries.

I want you to track everything and listen.

I don't want you to judge it.

I don't want you to analyze it yet.

Just record the amount and maybe a quick note of what it was for.

That's it, and I want you to track every expense for the next seven days.

Now, you might be saying, Ralph, why this specific action?

Why do you want me to do this?

Well, here's why.

Because it directly attacks that pain of financial ignorance

and that feeling outta control.

That's what we're trying to eliminate, and it's gonna

replace that mystery with facts.

It gives you the power of awareness, which is the absolute first step

towards making intentional changes and becoming a more faithful steward.

In the end, it's gonna be no more vanishing money.

Well, let's pray together.

Father God, thank you for your provision.

Lord, we confess that sometimes we spend without even thinking, and we lose track

of the resources you've entrusted to us.

Lord, I pray for my friend listening right now as they commit to tracking

their spending for this next week.

Lord, grant them the discipline to follow through, give them courage

to face the reality of their habits without judgment, but with a desire for

greater wisdom and better stewardship.

Help this simple act of tracking bring them clarity and be the foundation

for the positive changes they need.

And may they not do this out of legalism.

But out of the desire to honor you, and Lord, we ask this in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Alright, detective, your assignment begins today.

Get that notebook or that app ready and start tracking.

Don't get discouraged.

If you miss something, just pick it back up.

Awareness is the goal this week, and be sure to join me back here

tomorrow once you've started tracking.

What do you do with that information?

Well, tomorrow we're gonna talk about using that tracking data to

identify your biggest financial leak.

You know that one where your money might be slipping away without you

even realizing that we're gonna cover action item number five, and

if today's episode sparked an aha moment, share it with somebody.

You can find resources and links in the show notes, and I encourage

you, and I strongly encourage you, join our community@askralph.com.

So until tomorrow, happy tracking and keep seeking him first.

Stay financially savvy and God bless you.

Have a great day.