$100 bills/money blowing/flying away on with no boundaries background DT blog FACE the Facts: The Simple Shift That Stops Your Money’s Disappearing Act

And how you can build clarity, calm, and confidence one simple step at a time.

Have you ever looked at your bank account and wondered, “Where in the world did all that money go?”

Ken and I used to say that every single month. Our money performed a disappearing act and we never quite knew how it happened. And if you’ve ever felt that way, I want you to know something right off the top:

You’re not alone — and you’re not stuck.

When we finally faced the truth about what was happening with our finances, everything changed. Not overnight, not magically, and certainly not perfectly — yet steadily, consistently, and powerfully.

That’s why this part of The Wealth Formula Expanded Journey matters so much to me. It’s the exact path we walked when our money, our peace, and even our marriage felt fragile. And if it worked for us, I know it can work for you too.

👀 Step 1: Awareness — Because You Can’t Change What You Can’t See

One of the most eye-opening moments for us was learning that 68% of Canadians don’t track their spending. Honestly, that number didn’t surprise us at all — we used to be part of that group.

But here’s what did surprise us:
📈 Canadians who track their money regularly are 200% more likely to feel financially confident.

And that’s when the truth hit us:
We weren’t broken — we were simply unaware.

In the early days, I used to joke that our money was like a teenager sneaking out at night. We didn’t know where it was going… but it sure wasn’t where we expected.

That’s why in The Wealth Formula, we teach the acronym:

FACE — Financial Awareness Creates Empowerment.

And it does. Awareness is the foundation of every wise money decision you’ll ever make.

❤️ What awareness did for us

Once we finally tracked our spending — every penny, for 30 days — the guilt eased, the confusion lifted, and clarity began to settle in.
Nothing changed financially yet.
But everything changed emotionally.

For the first time in years, we felt hopeful.

“When you know where your money is going, you begin to tell it where to go—instead of wondering where it went.”
— The Wealth Formula

That quote came straight out of our lived experience.

🧾 Step 2: Control — How a Spending Plan Brought Us Peace

A budget isn’t a burden. It’s a breath of fresh air.

I used to hate the word “budget.”
To me, it felt restrictive, cold, and almost punishing.

And then we learned the truth:
A budget is simply permission to dream on paper.

It doesn’t choke your joy.
It gives you your joy back.

It shows you what’s possible.
It reveals where money is silently slipping away.
It helps you choose what truly matters.

💡 The zero-based budget changed everything

The first time we created a budget years ago, it failed miserably.

Why?
Because we built budgets with no awareness.
We guessed at our spending instead of knowing it.

Once we tracked first and budgeted second, everything clicked.

A zero-based budget means every dollar gets a job.
Nothing is wasted.
Nothing is lost.
Nothing disappears without your consent.

And in our world of easy credit, debit cards, auto-payments, and subscriptions, this kind of clarity is essential.

🪴 Tools that actually helped us

We tried:

  • Jars

  • Envelopes

  • Banking sub-accounts

  • Apps

  • Notebooks

  • And even whiteboards

None of those tools are magical — but awareness is.
Control grows naturally when you can finally see what you’re doing.

💰 Step 3: Calm — Reprioritizing When Money Gets Tight

Peace isn’t about having more. It’s about knowing what matters most.

I’ve felt financial panic, and it is not “all in your head.”
It’s real. It’s physical. It messes with your sleep, your emotions, your confidence, and your clarity.

I’ve felt:

  • Tightness in my throat

  • A knot in my stomach

  • A wave of heat

  • Restlessness in the middle of the night

  • That sense of being overwhelmed, even when the numbers weren’t that big

If you’ve felt that too, I want you to hear me clearly:

👉 There is nothing wrong with you.
You’re simply carrying what wasn’t designed to be carried alone.

When we started reprioritizing — truly looking at the essentials first — calm slowly returned.
Housing.
Utilities.
Food.
Transportation.

The rest could wait.
And the rest did wait.

🔥 The statistic that shook us

RBC reported that 62% of Canadians would need to borrow money to cover a $500 emergency expense.

Five hundred dollars.
That’s not a luxury — that’s tires, a dental visit, a fridge repair, or medication.

If you’re feeling tight, you’re not alone — you’re in the majority.
And there is a way through it.

🧺 Step 4: Preparation — The Cure for Future Panic

Preparation creates peace. Every time.

This is the step that surprised us the most.
In the early days, every “expert” told us to pay off debt first.

But the truth is this:

👉 Without an emergency fund, you will always go backward.
👉 Without preparation, panic returns.
👉 Without margin, debt wins.

That’s why The Wealth Formula starts with saving a small emergency cushion — even while you still have debt.

It interrupts the cycle.
It gives you breathing room.
It builds confidence.
It silences panic.

When you have cash set aside — even a small amount — you sleep better.
You breathe deeper.
You stand straighter.
You finally feel in control.

As Zane says in our book:

“You can’t build the future while you’re still trying to survive today.”

Preparation is powerful.

🧠 What This Journey Really Does

This 4-part transformation is the roadmap we lived:
Awareness → Control → Calm → Preparation.

It’s how we went from:

  • stressed to steady

  • reactive to intentional

  • overwhelmed to confident

  • stuck to building wisely

  • surviving to thriving

This is not theory.
This is not hype.
This is not a quick fix.

This is real life.
This is lived experience.
This is the foundation of every wise financial decision you will ever make.

❤️ One Final Thought

Awareness isn’t about shame.
It’s about wisdom.

Control isn’t about restriction.
It’s about confidence.

Calm isn’t about having more.
It’s about seeing clearly.

Preparation isn’t about fear.
It’s about freedom.

You are not behind.
You are beginning.
And beginnings are powerful.

When we move forward together —
We’ve got this.

🎯 When You’re Ready for Your Next Step

📞 Book a Wealth by Design Clarity Call

Let’s talk about your home, your money, and your goals.
This conversation is often the turning point.
👉 https://dekkerteam.com/clarity-call

🎥 Watch the Full Episode

Come spend some time with us.
You’ll feel encouraged, equipped, and ready.
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@DekkerTeam/videos

📘 Get Your Copy of The Wealth Formula

It’s helped thousands.
It can help you.
👉 Stop in at Solid Rock Realty, 5 Corvus Court, Ottawa Ontario, or order on $100 bills/money blowing/flying away on with no boundaries background DT blog FACE the Facts: The Simple Shift That Stops Your Money’s Disappearing Act Amazon.ca

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