"Money is only a tool.  It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver." - Ayn Rand

With so much going on in our day-to-day lives, it's impossible to stay conscious of everything, all the time.  But your finances deserve regular, weekly (if not daily) attention.  It's so easy to make excuses, look for short-cuts, or wish for an easier way.  Truth be told, there's no life-hack for responsibility.  Some things, you just have to do.

...And that's usually where I lose people's interest.

It's no surprise, either.  After all, we live in the Age of Automation.  We're used to a host of mundane, every-day tasks being done for us via gizmos, apps,and modern technology.  By default, we toss money matters on a list of things we'd like taken care of, but would rather not invest personal time in.  Automation, while very useful in some areas, presents a huge drawback in finances:

It takes you out of the equation.

It's "personal finance" for a reason. It needs you -- the person!  Someone, or I should say something, else shouldn't be running the show. As you rely on this automation over time, you'll find yourself less and less involved with your finances.

For those who are overwhelmed with money problems or feel they "don't have time" to do more, it's a matter of taking back control through conscious change.  A proactive mindset concerning your money, combined with proactive habits, ensures the kind of progress you desire.  Remind yourself that you're in the driver's seat. You're the boss -- the big cheese. You call the shots.  Stephen R. Covey said, "Proactive people focus their efforts on their Circle of Influence.  They work on the things they can do something about: health, children, problems at work.  Reactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Concern -- things over which they have little or no control...Gaining an awareness of the areas in which we expend our energies is a giant step in becoming proactive." 

Awareness is the key ingredient to any kind of progress or positive change in life.  Give something constant, constructive attention, and you help it thrive. Conversely, lose awareness, and you eventually lose your ability to affect. It's a universal principle. The success of your finances depends on your awareness.  You are in control of your money and what it can do. Maintaining this outlook will help you thrive, not just survive, financially.

So, you want to raise awareness?

Track:

Start by gathering information...In short, that means track your spending.  This is absolutely necessary.  Some may be tempted to say, "I know I spend less than I make, isn't that good enough?"  If you want to stay in the same financial situation you're in, then (obviously) keep doing what you're doing.  But if you want more financial freedom -- if you want to channel more money toward debt-payoffs, or figure out why you can barely make ends meet -- record your spending! Numbers don't lie. No matter how on top of your money you may think you are, once you actually track it, you'll be surprised how much is slipping through the cracks.

With your new-found wealth of understanding (awareness!) you'll know just where to trim the outflow and focus your money.  There's no better means for assessing your situation.  The effort it takes to track your spending will pay off instantly.  It may be hard to face sometimes ("we spent $600 on that?!") but the reality-check is, indeed, a good kind of hurt.

Budget: Now that you've diagnosed the leaky spending, fill the vacuum with a pro-active plan!  Budgets are just another word for "plan" -- nothing to be afraid of. They're not meant to be constrictive -- only constructive.  So stop picturing a life lived on Spaghettios and Goodwill clothing.  It doesn't have to be that way.  You're in control, remember?  You set the terms of your budget.  Just make sure the budget you've created is realistic.  That's why it's so important to track your spending first and get a good idea of what's doable for your family. 

Every budget will be different, depending on the priorities and financial responsibilities of each family.  If going to the movies is an important, weekly tradition with your spouse, then put it in the budget.  Does your son need expensive equipment for sports?  Budget it.  Do you want to surprise your parents with a trip to Europe for their anniversary?  Budget it.  You know what you want to do.  Just plan for it ahead of time.

Continue to track your spending against your various budget categories.  Knowing your money is already needed for a particular goal drastically cuts down on impulse-buys and unnecessary spending.  These personal finance concepts are nothing new. There's a reason you hear this counsel over and over -- because it works.

Automation aids in generic tasks, but it cannot replace you as the decision-maker. Your future goals are unique and specific to your family.  Your money requires consistent, personal tending.  You must be the one to plan and oversee the execution. You stand at the helm of your financial ship.  The only question left to ask is: Where do you want to go?