This is a slight modification from something I heard in a sermon. The original phrasing was: “Your checkbook tells you what your values are.” This might be a touch reductive, but there is a TON of truth to it. If you say you value something but none of your resources go towards supporting it, then what does that really mean? What do your resources actually support and promote in the world? Take a look at your checkbook (but also your credit card statements, automatic payments, Mint or other apps) and find your last 10 expenses over $50. (For the sake of the exercise, you can ignore things like regular groceries and utilities.) What do your expenses tell you about your values? Did a church get a part of your hard earned cash? Did a charity? Did restaurants get most of it? Did a used surfboard from Craigslist? Did you spend on a close friend for his birthday? Did you travel? (Feel free to tweak the parameters – look at the last 15 expenses or look at only the ones over $100.) Sometimes self-awareness involves no reflection at all – just a bit of time with your personal finances.

Source: Inspired by a sermon but I don’t remember where I heard it…

Have you asked this question? How did it go? Do you have advice for how best to ask it? PLEASE RATE! AND WRITE A REVIEW (in the comment box below)!