you haven’t written anything down, there will appear to be no trade-offs necessary. And that’s how people get into staggering amounts of debt.

It’s important to maintain your automated financial system. Every year, I spend a few hours re-reviewing my system and making any changes necessary. For example, have I added subscriptions that I don’t need anymore? Should I adjust my Conscious Spending Plan to account for new short-term goals? Set aside some time every year—I recommend December so

Optimizing your plan might involve doing some serious bargaining when you make major purchases like a car or house (see Chapter 9). Or you might need to cut your expenses as ruthlessly as possible, which I cover on my website (search for “ramit savings”). You may even think about negotiating a higher salary or getting a higher-paying job.