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If you’re looking to finally get your financial life in order, you might be wondering where to even begin. There’s so much advice out there—investing, debt payoff, side hustles, credit scores—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

But if I had to start completely from scratch today, knowing what I know now as a financial coach, dad, and planner, here are the 5 things I’d focus on first.

These are the building blocks that create stability, confidence, and freedom.

1. Get Clear on Where Your Money Is Going

Before you can improve anything, you have to see the truth.
For one full month, track every dollar that comes in and goes out. No judgment, no guilt—just awareness.

You can use an app, a spreadsheet, or even a notebook. The goal is to understand your spending patterns and identify where money leaks are happening.

Once you know where your money is going, you can start telling it where to go instead.

👉 Awareness always comes before control.

2. Build a Simple, Realistic Budget

Budgets don’t have to be rigid or painful—they’re simply a plan for your money.

Start with something simple:

• Income at the top.

• Expenses below.

• Savings and debt payments built right in.

Make sure your budget reflects your real life—not some fantasy version of it. If you love coffee or hockey games with your kids, keep them in. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress and sustainability.

3. Build an Emergency Fund (Even a Small One)

If there’s one lesson life keeps teaching us, it’s that stuff happens—and it’s usually expensive.

Before you invest or tackle every debt, aim for a small emergency fund of $1,000 to $2,500. That alone can keep you from sliding back into credit card debt the next time your car needs repairs or your dog needs the vet.

Then, once your other goals are in motion, grow it to cover 3–6 months of expenses.

An emergency fund isn’t about fear—it’s about freedom and peace of mind.

4. Tackle High-Interest Debt

Debt is a weight that keeps families from moving forward.
If you have credit card balances or personal loans with high interest, make them your next target.

List your debts from smallest to largest (debt snowball) or highest to lowest interest rate (debt avalanche)—and attack them systematically.

Every dollar of interest you stop paying is a dollar that stays in your pocket.

5. Automate Savings and Investments

Once you’ve stabilized your budget and tamed your debt, it’s time to pay yourself first—automatically.

Set up automatic transfers to:

• Your savings account (for short-term goals).

• Your retirement accounts (401k, IRA).

• College savings plans if you have kids.

Automation removes emotion and inconsistency. You don’t have to rely on willpower—you just build wealth quietly in the background.

Final Thoughts

If you’re just starting to get your financial life in order, remember this: you don’t have to do everything at once.

Focus on one step at a time. Small, consistent progress compounds into big results over time.

The goal isn’t to be perfect—it’s to be intentional.
And when you build financial stability from the ground up, you’re not just improving your bank account—you’re building confidence, options, and a better future for your family.

Want Help Getting Started?

Email me for my free “Fix Your Finances in 7 Days” Quickstart Challenge—a step-by-step email course that helps you build momentum fast and start seeing results in your first week.

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