Most financial and planning systems fail for one simple reason: they depend on motivation. Motivation is inconsistent. Documentation is not.
A documented system does two things well:
- Creates continuity: you can return after a break and still know what you were doing.
- Creates feedback: your past decisions become visible, reviewable, and improvable.
The purpose of a template is not to “optimize” your life. It is to reduce friction so you can repeat a simple process: record → review → adjust.
If you want a system that lasts, design it for average days—not perfect days.