Weekly Habits with Monarch Money: Aligning Your Spending with Your Goals
Weekly Habits with Monarch Money: Aligning Your Spending with Your Goals
Daily tracking is essential, but the real transformation happens when you zoom out once a week and look at your money from a higher level. Monarch Money gives you the tools to see if your daily decisions are adding up to progress—or pulling you off track.
This article walks you through a weekly routine that takes just 15–20 minutes but delivers clarity, control, and confidence with your money.
✅ Step 1: Review Category Spending
Go to Plan > This Month and look at your spending by category.
- Which categories are over budget?
- Which ones are underutilized?
- Are you overspending in areas that don’t align with your priorities?
💡 Pro Tip: Treat this as a coaching session with yourself. Ask, “Does this spending reflect my values?”
✅ Step 2: Reconcile All Transactions
Even if you review daily, a weekly review ensures nothing slips through the cracks.
- Fix uncategorized transactions
- Split large purchases (Amazon, Costco, etc.)
- Add notes or tags for better reporting
🔍 Why this matters: A single week of missed entries can throw off your entire budget.
✅ Step 3: Check Progress Toward Goals
Go to Goals and update contributions.
- Did you add to your emergency fund?
- Did you make an extra debt payment?
- Are you falling behind on savings?
🎯 Motivation Hack: Label each goal with its emotional impact (“Peace of Mind Fund,” “Freedom from Credit Cards”) so it feels more personal.
✅ Step 4: Look Ahead with the Calendar
Switch to Plan > Calendar and scan the week ahead.
- Upcoming bills or payments?
- Paychecks hitting your account?
- Any cash flow crunch points?
📅 Best Use: Weekly calendar checks prevent overdrafts and make sure your money is timed to your life.
✅ Step 5: Partner Check-In (If Applicable)
If you’re sharing finances, schedule a 10-minute weekly check-in with your partner.
- Review spending together
- Decide on any adjustments
- Celebrate progress
💬 Pro Tip: Use Monarch’s notes or tags (like “Needs Discussion”) to flag items for these check-ins.
⏰ Weekly Routine Recap (15–20 Minutes)
- Review spending categories
- Reconcile transactions
- Check progress toward goals
- Look ahead with the calendar
- Have a quick money check-in (if partnered)
🚀 Next Step: Monthly Habits
Weekly reviews keep you on track, but the monthly review is where strategy comes in—adjusting budgets, reviewing net worth, and planning for the future.
👉 Read the next article: Monthly Habits with Monarch Money
Or go back to the full guide:
📖 Practical Guide to Using Monarch Money (For Active Users)
📩 Want personalized guidance on how to make these habits stick? Book a financial coaching session and start building the financial life you’ve always wanted.