Paper and pencil and/or your computer A case or container for your receipts Bills to be paid A calendar
Comprehensiveness The system covers the common components of the area it is addressing (for finances, that would be checking accounts and credit cards), but it can also accommodate not-so-obvious components (such as cash spending). Simplicity The system is no more complex than it has to be. Appropriateness The system is a good fit for the user’s skills, patience, and available time. Flexibility The system can be changed as needed when life changes come along.
With that in mind, let’s get started on your first project: a method for keeping transactions from slipping through the cracks.