“I used to avoid looking at my finances. Now I feel in control for the first time in years.” – Sarah, Business Owner.

For anyone who feels overwhelmed or wants to master their finances, taking control begins with a simple yet powerful habit: holding a weekly financial and administrative meeting. Deciding in advance when and where you’ll hold this meeting can significantly increase your chances of success, a concept known as implementation intentions. Research has shown that forming specific plans about when and where to act can double the likelihood of following through on your goals (James Clear).

If time is short or you have difficulty fitting in a full hour, reduce the meeting to 30 minutes and focus on the most critical tasks. Even dedicating just 15 minutes a week is beneficial. Proactively managing your money and tasks, even in brief sessions, makes life much easier. Consistency is the difference between success and failure. I suggest that you spend an hour focusing on your highest priorities every week, and that is what I do.

This structured check-in ensures that your spending aligns with your priorities, eliminates financial surprises, and keeps you and your household in sync.

Why You Need a Weekly Meeting

Most financial stress comes from a lack of paying attention and being proactive. When you don’t know exactly where your money is going, it’s easy to feel out of control. A weekly financial and administration meeting eliminates that uncertainty by giving you a routine to:

• Categorize all transactions – No more uncategorized spending slipping through the cracks.
• Reconcile accounts – Make sure your financial data matches reality, so your numbers are always accurate.
• Review spending plans in YNAB – Ensure every dollar has a job and your budget reflects your current priorities.
• Adjust as needed – If unexpected expenses arise, adjust your plan rather than reacting with stress.

Make Administrative Tasks Easier

Let’s be honest—nobody enjoys administrative work. But it’s a necessary part of keeping your finances and life organized. The key is to make it as efficient as possible by including it in your weekly meeting. Using a free task manager like Trello or Asana can make a huge difference. These tools allow you to:

• Set due dates for tasks
• Assign responsibilities to household members
• Keep track of important deadlines

By handling these tasks weekly, you’ll avoid last-minute scrambles and unnecessary stress. Instead of rushing to complete something you forgot about, you’ll stay ahead and in control.

What to Include in Your Task List
Your weekly meeting isn’t just about bills and spending — it needs to cover everything that needs planning, including:

• Financial tasks – Paying bills, reviewing subscriptions, tax prep, and insurance renewals
• Household administration – Maintenance schedules, appointment bookings, and important deadlines
• Fun plans – Vacations, parties, family get-togethers, and anything else you want to prepare for
• Looking over your schedule over the next few weeks with your partner or your spouse. We used a shared calendar so we don’t have to remember.

A weekly meeting isn’t about restricting yourself—it’s about making sure you’re prepared for the things you want to do.

Keep It to One Hour

To make sure this habit sticks, limit your meetings to one hour. If you need more time on an item, schedule another time to dive deeper. You will find it much easier to keep the commitment to yourself if the meeting doesn’t keep growing and growing.

By keeping it to an hour, you’ll also force yourself to focus on the most essential items, rather than getting lost in unnecessary details. If you are using my system, talking about money will take less than half an hour. That means you’ll still have time to discuss other administrative and planning tasks—just be sure to end in an hour or less so it remains a manageable, stress-free habit.

Why This Works

Without a weekly meeting, knowing where you stand with your money and administrative decisions becomes reactive rather than intentional. Then, people make financial decisions based on their bank balance rather than their priorities. A weekly meeting shifts your mindset from reactive money management to proactive control.

How to Make It Stick

To build this habit, consistency is key.

• Set a specific day, place, and time each week
• Keep the meeting structured but efficient
• Involve key decision-makers (such as your spouse or business partner)
• Use a simple tool to track your progress
• Stick to the one-hour rule to stay focused

Over time, this simple routine will help you feel more confident, more organized, and in control of your finances—and your life.

Need Help Getting Started?

If you’re looking for support in setting up a financial system that works for you, I can help. Let’s get your priorities straight and take the stress out of managing your money.

Schedule a conversation with me at MeetWithDoug.com.