This ^ This ^ This ^ Every word of it. My life and finances only started to change when I began keeping track of every penny coming in and every penny going out. I use a free app called expense tracker - it works for me - but not everyone will want to share their email (they didn't ask for personal info when I first got it a year ago :-/ )

If you rely on 'what I think I spend' - you'll never save. For the first month when I started tracking my 'net worth' - I didn't change anything. The second month, I went back and started making changes. Also, keeping track makes me think twice about making a dumb ass purchase I know I'll regret.

Please keep posting stuff like this :-) I don't know if I call myself an investor - but I work for me, and don't let anyone else manage my money. Vanguard Index funds for the bulk - then some stocks and cryptos for a smaller percentage. What's your strategy /Mix?