One of my projects over the Christmas and New Year break was to create my MOAS for 2015.

MOAS?

Mother of all Spreadsheets – a name christened back in the 90s and the heyday of The Dental Business School, when clients asked me how I organised my own personal finances.

Every year since 1996, there has been an MOAS in Excel and every year I have itemised all of my personal expenses and created a cash flow forecast that is then changed in real-time as bills increase.

Those of you who follow me on Facebook will know that most Sunday mornings I am in The Bunker, updating the MOAS for the previous week’s ACTUAL expenses, so that I can keep a running eye on the month.

I’ve been paranoid about this habit for years as I find it gives me peace of mind to know that I do have enough money to get to the end of the month – or I don’t – in which case I have to do something about it.

I keep a similar worksheet for Annie B and update this for her every week.

I also keep tabs that itemise the funds flow through the month (which day the bills are going out) and itemise debt and debt reduction (updated when monthly statements arrive).

So, notwithstanding holidays and adventures, I’m never more than 6 days from having my finger on the pulse.

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“These “letters” are the personal observations of me, Chris Barrow and are not intended to reflect the views of 7connections and its team members, they just give me permission to publish here on the basis that they can keep an eye on me, a bit like a mad relative at a wedding reception. I’m likely to upset the sensitive and outrage the sensible – if you fall into either of those camps then read at your peril.”