Do you spend your money here or there? What do you compare it to?

but it's also about what else that money could be used for. If you don't know the "big picture," it's nearly impossible to make effective spending decisions on a daily basis.

The first step is to take into account not just your regular monthly bills and expenses, but the impact of the irregular and non-monthly expenses. If you can fund those non-monthly expenses as though they were monthly, and then subtract the regular monthly bills and expenses, then you'll have a clearer picture of what's left for those extras.

You'll also have a clearer picture of whether your regular expenses really work within the income you're making. Those irregular and non-monthly expenses are the culprits for much of the on-going debt balances that I see: car repairs, vacations, gifts, holidays, home improvements and maintenance projects (to name just a few). If you're not taking these into account and putting money aside for them, you're setting yourself up for a rough ride.

If your debt has a pesky habit of not going away, regardless of how much you're paying, then it is worth your time to look at what goes on your credit cards. You'll discover the components of your lifestyle that you're not taking into account and for which you need to find solutions for in your cash flow.

If you keep running out of money before the month ends, or struggling to pay your mortgage, then you need to plot out your cash flow requirements and find solutions. Perhaps you take your mortgage half out of your first check and half out of your second. Or you need to get some due dates changed on bills so that the cash flow is more even. If you have a feast/famine cycle within each month, you will feel like you're struggling even if there is enough money overall.

Taking into Account Your Money Family Tree

Our attitudes and beliefs about money are roughly assembled between the ages of three and seven, and then re-confirmed innumerable times as we grow into adulthood. By the time we're adults, they feel like 'truths.'

Not all of these attitudes and beliefs are helpful, however, and can cause us to repeat behavior that doesn't take us where we want to go. You might hear yourself say that you're the kind of person who can't save money.   Or that everyone in your family struggles with money.

What are those attitudes and beliefs that you have around money? Your money, not money in general.   Many of my clients handle other people's money brilliantly, but have glitches in their own financial lives that drive them crazy.

When you're around your family of origin, listen for those nuggets of money talk that can help tip you off to what you brought forward with you. Listen to your own conversations when money comes up...what do you say about yourself or your situation?

Knowing what you bring with you about money is an important part of your 3D approach to your money life. Keeping these things on a conscious level allows you to choose behavior rather than behave from your default training.

Finding an Expert in the Field

If you're seeing a pattern of ineffectiveness in your day-to-day financial life, look for an expert in that arena. There are special tricks, tips, resources and short cuts that can make your transition easier with the right help.

What you need for money glitches is a financial counselor or coach. These are the experts in the field of personal cash flow management.

Having a 3D perspective about your money life will ease so many aspects of your life. When your money life isn't working, it creates a low-level anxiety on a daily basis which spikes to high anxiety occasionally.

You aren't even aware of the time, effort and energy you're expending until you are on the other side of your money transition. The relief is amazing, and you'll find that you have more time for the fun things in life.

For the last 20 plus years I've been helping people have a more stress-free and effortless money life, and there is no reason why you should struggle when you don't need to. With a 360-degree perspective, you have what you need to make great financial decisions and create the future that you're dreaming of.