Why Your Money System Isn’t Working (And the 3 Signs You Need an Upgrade)

👉🏻 The TL;DR (5 minute read):

Most people don’t have a money problem - they have a system problem. Here are the three signs your current setup is holding you back and how to build one that actually works going into 2026.

🚨 BLACK FRIDAY SALE ALERT!! All my products, including the new and improved Personal Finance Dashboard, the Basic Budgeting Template, and the FI/RE Planner are on sale this week only with the code BFSALE2025 💸

MONEY
Why Your Money System Isn’t Working (and how to fix it!!)

Here’s something I’ve learned after spending the last 5 years working with people on improving their finances:

Your financial progress has less to do with willpower… and everything to do with the structure you’re using.

💸 You can want to save more.
💸 You can want to spend mindfully.
💸 You can want to “get your life together” before the new year.

But if the system you’re using is confusing, incomplete, or cumbersome, you will always feel like you’re behind because you will never want to actually USE IT!!

And most people don’t realize their system is the real problem.

3 Signs Your Money System Isn’t Working

Let’s talk about the red flags.

These are the exact issues I ran into before I built the Personal Finance Dashboard. They're also the same things people DM me about every single day.

1. You’re using too many tools.

👉🏻 An app for your budget.
👉🏻 A separate note for your goals.
👉🏻 A random spreadsheet for your debt payoff.

This is the fastest way to feel overwhelmed. There’s too many places to remember and you likely are not going to be monitoring them all regularly (unless you are SUPER disciplined which let’s be real.. most of us are not). When your numbers are scattered across so many places, it’s hard to feel clear and confident.

2. Your tools make you feel worse, not better

Budgeting apps send pointless notifications, mis-categorize expenses, and can be really hard to customize to feel like yours.

The tool you use should not be shaming your spending choices or misappropriating your priorities. It should be giving you clear insights that you can use to make real, data-driven decisions.

3. You’re not getting clear insights.

How can you expect to make better decisions if the tool you are using doesn’t even give you clear information? I want to know where I spent and my progress towards my goals each month but also on an annual basis!!

What a Good Money System Should Do For You:

If your system is working, it should give you:

✔️ one place for all your numbers
✔️ clarity on your spending patterns
✔️ a plan for your money going forward
✔️ insights you can understand instantly
✔️ accountability built into the structure
✔️ an annual view and a monthly view
✔️ a way to track every part of your financial life
✔️ decision-making support, not noise

Your finances drive almost every decision you make. If you don’t know what’s going on, it’s almost impossible to make empowered choices. 

The fix: Upgrade your system before 2026

If you want to start 2026 feeling clear and confident, don’t wait until Januar. Your momentum begins now.

So here’s your action plan:

1️⃣ Take a financial audit (your Financial Snapshot)

Start with clarity. Map out your accounts, your bills, your deductions, and your spending patterns. You can do this inside The Personal Finance Dashboard!

2️⃣ Build a system that simplifies decisions

Every month, you should know:
✔️ Where your money is going
✔️ How much you’re saving
✔️ How much you’re investing
✔️ Your debt payoff timeline
✔️ Your net worth trajectory

3️⃣ Use one central place to track everything

Because the truth is simple: The easier your system is to maintain, the more consistent you become.

If your system hasn’t been working for you - or you don’t have one at all - the Personal Finance Dashboard is the tool I use and recommend!

It’s the most comprehensive money template available, and it gives you the clarity you need to make better decisions every single month.

👉🏻 You can get the Personal Finance Dashboard here 

BTW - the PFD + all of my other templates and courses are on sale this week only for Black Friday! Use the code BFSALE2025 for 25% off everything!!

If you want to learn more about the Personal Finance Dashboard, watch this video!

💡 Ready to create your financial independence plan? Check out the FI/RE Planner and map out your annual targets to become work-optional!

RESOURCES
What’s Happening This Week at Break Your Budget

• This week on Don’t Depend on Daddy: I’m answering your career questions - from how to leave your corporate job and start freelancing, to building your network without feeling fake, to what to do if you’ve been laid off. I’ll share my realistic advice on how long it actually takes to leave corporate, what it means to become work optional, and how to use your current skill set to build a business or side hustle that can eventually replace your 9-5 income

• Personal Finance Dashboard 7.0 Tour: If you’re curious about the PFD and want to see more about what it looks like and how it works, watch this video!

LOOKING FOR MORE?
Check out ALL of my Money & Career Resources!

• Read by books, Own Your Money and Own Your Career!

• Take your financial power back with The Personal Finance Dashboard, my comprehensive money management tool!

• Up-level your career and get promoted with the Own Your Career Template!

• Just getting started on your financial journey? Check out the Basic Budgeting Template!

• Learn exactly how to put together a plan for your finances with the 4-Week Financial Plan!