Pen and Ink Changes

I'm a creature of habit.  I like my bowl of Cheerios in the morning just like I have had every morning for the past few years.  I also enjoy my crossword puzzle at some point in the day before noon.  Recently, I found myself without a pencil readily available to begin my puzzle (#42 Across: 2 words; forgetful).  Not to be defeated, I grabbed a pen and dug into my word quest.  Once the un-erasable ink hit the first little square, I realized I would need to be a bit more careful and mindful as I worked the puzzle.  There would be no take backs or do overs for this game.  I had to be cautious and mindful as I went across and down.  With this in mind, I saw the puzzle in a holistic way than before.  I saw how each letter would need to fit into the overall picture before I committed myself to an entry.  Yes, I could put an "E" in this box, but would it cooperate with the other 3 letters on its left and right once I got to the other half of the puzzle?  I began to create a photo of the riddle in my mind before filling in the blanks.  This got me thinking of another habit of mine.  Namely, my monthly budget.  I've been creating monthly budgets for the past 11 years now and I'm still learning a thing or two about them.  I like to tell people to keep their budget as simple as possible and if need be, no need to make it complicate.  Just use a pad a paper and a pencil if need be.  But my recent crossword puzzle experience got me thinking perhaps its time to swap out the pencil and start applying some ink to your budget.  Be mindful of how any one of your expenses will impact the overall picture of your cash flow plan.  Will the $100 gym membership cooperate with the other expenses above and below it?  Create a mindful vision of how this particular puzzle will look once you declare it finished.  Will there be holes left unfilled?  Have you accounted for everything you need to?  Will you bottom line still balance out?  Pencils and erasers still have their place in your career as a successful personal budget master, but at some point you have to give up the ability to change things mid way through your month.  Commit to each line of your budget and see them as permanently marked on an contract not just suggestions on an advisory document.  Once you achieve this level of success you will be ready to offer guidance and assistance to those around you in their own quests.  Soon you will be pushing your bowl of Cheerios aside and attacking a crossword puzzle with a pen yourself.  (#29 Down: self assurance).