Implementation Guide 2: Your Money Map Creation

Implementation Guide 2: Your Money Map Creation

A complete step-by-step session to build your personalized Money Map

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This guide will walk you through creating your first Money Map in one focused session. Set aside 60-90 minutes when you won't be interrupted. This isn't just an exercise; it's the foundation of your financial peace.

Before You Start

Gather These Materials






Choose Your Environment




💡 Set Your Mindset

This is not about judgment or perfection. You're creating a tool to serve your peace and values. Be honest about your current reality; that's where real planning begins.

Phase 1: Income Reality Check (15 minutes)

Step 1: Calculate Your True Monthly Income

Start with your payslip:

Income Component Amount (£)
Gross salary (before deductions)
LESS: Deductions
Income tax deducted
National Insurance deducted
Pension contributions deducted
TAKE-HOME PAY £0.00

Add other reliable income:

Additional Income Source Monthly Amount (£)
Child benefit (if applicable)
Side work or freelancing (conservative estimate)
Investment income
Any other regular income
TOTAL ADDITIONAL £0.00

YOUR PLANNING INCOME = Take-home pay + Additional income = £0.00

💡 For Variable Income Earners

Look at your last 6 months of income. Calculate the average, then use the lowest month as your planning figure. It's better to be pleasantly surprised than caught short.

Example calculation:

Monthly Income Assessment:

Step 2: Income Confidence Check

Rate your confidence in this income (1-10):

Rating Description Planning Approach
8-10 Very stable, predictable income Standard planning approach
5-7 Mostly stable with some variation Add 10% buffer to essential expenses
1-4 Highly variable or uncertain Focus on larger emergency fund, conservative planning

Your Income Confidence Rating:

If you rated 5 or below, build extra margin into your planning and focus on building a larger emergency fund.

Phase 2: Essential Expenses Audit (20 minutes)

Step 3: List Your Non-Negotiable Expenses

Go through your bank statements and identify expenses that must be paid to maintain your basic standard of living:

Housing and Council

Expense Monthly Amount (£)
Rent or mortgage payment
Council tax
Buildings/contents insurance
HOUSING SUBTOTAL £0.00

Utilities and Communication

Expense Monthly Amount (£)
Gas and electricity
Water
Internet and phone
Mobile phone
UTILITIES SUBTOTAL £0.00

Transport

Expense Monthly Amount (£)
Car payment
Car insurance
MOT/servicing (monthly average)
Fuel
Public transport passes
Parking fees
TRANSPORT SUBTOTAL £0.00

Family and Childcare

Expense Monthly Amount (£)
Childcare costs
School meals/activities
Essential children's expenses
FAMILY SUBTOTAL £0.00

Debt Obligations

Expense Monthly Amount (£)
Credit card minimum payments
Loan payments
Overdraft fees (aim to eliminate these)
DEBT SUBTOTAL £0.00

Health and Insurance

Expense Monthly Amount (£)
Life insurance premiums
Health insurance or private healthcare
Prescriptions and essential health costs
HEALTH SUBTOTAL £0.00

Step 4: Calculate Your Essential Expenses Total

Category Subtotal (£)
Housing and Council £0.00
Utilities and Communication £0.00
Transport £0.00
Family and Childcare £0.00
Debt Obligations £0.00
Health and Insurance £0.00
TOTAL ESSENTIAL EXPENSES £0.00

Example:

Essential Monthly Expenses:

Step 5: Reality Check Your Essentials

Assessment Value
Your Income £0.00
Your Essential Expenses £0.00
Essential Expenses as % of Income 0%

Assessment Guide:

Percentage Status Action Needed
70% or less ✅ Good foundation for building Proceed with confidence
70-85% ⚠️ Tight but manageable Careful planning required
85%+ 🚨 Critical - needs attention Reduce expenses or increase income
Phase 3: Values-Based Spending Planning (20 minutes)

Step 6: Define Your Financial Values

Before allocating money, clarify what matters most to you. Rank these values in order of importance:

Values List Your Ranking (1-10)
Financial security and emergency savings
Supporting family members
Generous giving to causes you believe in
Building long-term wealth through investing
Enjoying life through experiences and entertainment
Personal development and education
Health and wellbeing
Creating beautiful living spaces
Travel and exploration
Building a business or side income

Your Top 5 Values:

Step 7: Allocate Money to Your Values

Available for Values-Based Spending: £0.00

(Your Income - Essential Expenses)

Based on your values and remaining income after essentials, assign amounts to:

Security Building

Category Monthly Amount (£) Why This Matters
Emergency fund contribution Peace of mind and financial stability
Additional debt payments beyond minimums Freedom from debt burden
Additional pension contributions Long-term financial security
SECURITY SUBTOTAL £0.00

Giving and Support

Category Monthly Amount (£) Why This Matters
Charitable donations Living your values through giving
Family support Supporting loved ones
Community contributions Making a positive impact
GIVING SUBTOTAL £0.00

Future Building

Category Monthly Amount (£) Why This Matters
Savings for specific goals Working toward important milestones
Investment contributions Building long-term wealth
Education or training costs Personal and professional growth
FUTURE SUBTOTAL £0.00

Life Enhancement

Category Monthly Amount (£) Why This Matters
Entertainment and socializing Joy and relationship building
Personal care and wellness Health and self-care
Hobbies and interests Personal fulfillment
ENHANCEMENT SUBTOTAL £0.00

Example allocation:

Income after essentials: £265 (£2,750 - £2,485)

Values-Based Allocation:

Phase 4: The Complete Money Map (15 minutes)

Step 8: Create Your Money Map Summary

MONEY MAP FOR

INCOME

Source Amount (£)
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
TOTAL INCOME £0.00

ESSENTIAL EXPENSES

Category Amount (£)
Housing and Council £0.00
Utilities and Communication £0.00
Transport £0.00
Family and Childcare £0.00
Debt Obligations £0.00
Health and Insurance £0.00
TOTAL ESSENTIALS £0.00

VALUES-BASED SPENDING

Priority Amount (£)
Security Building £0.00
Giving and Support £0.00
Future Building £0.00
Life Enhancement £0.00
TOTAL VALUES SPENDING £0.00

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Total Income: £0.00
Total Essentials: £0.00
Total Values Spending: £0.00
Remaining Margin: £0.00

PLAN FOR MARGIN: