Balance Check

Hi lovely — and no, I’m not talking about your checking account.

On Monday, we talked about the Money “Girl Code” — the core concepts of financial literacy that help you use money wisely, invest and build wealth effectively, and secure your future. Cash flow, saving and investing, budgeting, debt management, insurance, and your mindset… all key pieces in building and protecting your wealth.

But knowing the concepts is one thing.

Understanding how your own numbers line up with them is where the real clarity happens.

And that brings us to a simple question:

Is your money in balance?

Many of us have a general idea of what we spend each month, but when you look at it through the lens of needs versus wants, it hits differently. Sometimes it’s even a little shocking to realize just how out of balance things are — especially if you’ve grown used to expenses that quietly eat up 70% or 75% of your income instead of the recommended 50%.

And once you see that clearly, it also becomes easier to understand why the credit card swipes keep happening. In that scenario, they’re not a mystery — they’re a reaction to expenses being out of balance relative to your income.

But take heart. Knowledge is always the first step.

When we know better, we do better.

Remember the 50/30/20 rule?

The one that helps you sort your money into needs, wants, and savings or extra debt payments?

According to the rule:

• 50% goes to your needs — the essentials

• 30% goes to your wants — the things you enjoy

• 20% goes to savings and extra payments to reduce debt — the part that strengthens your financial future by freeing up and allocating the cash flow you can use to build wealth.

It’s simple and practical.

But you might be thinking, “This makes sense… but who has time to sit down and calculate all of that?”

I understand — which is exactly why I created something to help.

Knowing Your Money Mix, Made Simple

I put together a tool that shows you your money mix in minutes.

You enter your numbers.

It does the math.

And you get a clear picture of how close you are to the 50/30/20 balance.

And here’s why that matters…

Building wealth and creating financial stability is important to us. But it’s hard to know where to begin if you don’t know where you currently stand. This kind of snapshot pulls back the covers and shows you exactly where your money is going — and whether any adjustments are needed to create cash flow, which is essential for building wealth.

And there’s something about “putting it on paper,” even digitally, that shifts things. Numbers that once felt abstract suddenly become clear. Patterns you didn’t notice before begin to stand out. It’s often the clarity needed before meaningful changes can take root.

Introducing the Money Snapshot Calculator

The Money Snapshot Calculator gives you a clean overview of your spending based on your actual numbers. In just a few minutes, you can see:

• how your mix aligns with the 50/30/20 guideline

• where your income is currently being allocated

• opportunities to increase your cash flow

• areas that support — or slow down — your financial goals

It’s a practical starting point for making intentional, informed decisions about your money.

Ready to check your balance?

See how your money mix lines up with the 50/30/20 rule.

Open the Money Snapshot Calculator

Friendly reminder: This is for education, not personal financial advice. Everyone’s money situation is different, and any decisions should be based on personal research or speaking with a licensed professional about your individual situation.