You are more productive when you have cash. It’s not like you have to be rich, either: if you have enough money that you aren’t worrying about bills and mortgages, that’s rich enough. It’s rich enough that you can concentrate on your writing. Maybe there is some truth in the idea that poverty helps writers but there is fact in how just a little bit of money makes it possible for you to write.

I should really cover this more in The Blank Screen because it’s that important. Let me think about how to do that and in the meantime, show you what popped it into my head this brisk January 1, 2015:

The new year is almost upon us! Every year “save money” and “manage debt” resolutions show up among the top resolutions people make. And since January is the time we are most motivated to work on goals, you can use this momentum to push your financial engine forward at full speed. By setting aside between five and 30 minutes each day, you can transform your finances dramatically in 30 days.

Day 1: Compile all your 2014 expenses and income. Categorize them. You can use Mint.com or Excel, whatever you are comfortable with. Yearly budgets are more accurate because you will see irregular expenses like property taxes or gifts.

Day 2: Continue to compile your 2014 expenses and income. You may need a second day to get all the 2014 expenses and income in one place, so use this day to do that and then review everything to make sure it is all correct.

Day 3: Make a spending plan using the data compiled on Day 1. Is your spending in line with what you want it to be? Do you want to save more or are you happy with the way things are going? Pick one area of your budget (just one area) that you want to reduce spending.

Day 4: Plan to save money in that one area of your budget. If, for example, it is to cut back on eating out, look through Pinterest and make a meal plan for the next month.

30 days to better finances – Linda Vergon, Get Rich Slowly (31 December 2014)

Read the full article for the remaining 26 days of Vernon’s plan.