Build Before You Borrow: The Financial Sorting System™ — Workbook
Tired of overdrafts, late fees, and guessing what’s “safe to spend”? This concise workbook shows you how to build a simple, automated money system that pays bills first, separates spending from obligations, and grows stability every single payday—without relying on willpower.
What you’ll build
A six-account, multi-bank structure (no sub-accounts) that keeps departments from mixing: Main Deposit (Control Tower), Fixed Expenses, Variable Expenses, Emergency Fund, Builder/Investment, and Leisure.
Exact per-paycheck amounts that never change between reviews, so the plan runs on schedule.
Automations that move money for you—no manual transfers.
Due-date alignment so drafts hit after payday.
A 90-day review rhythm to adjust only when life truly changes.
What’s inside
Step-by-step guidance to “interview your money,” including printing bank and credit card statements so hidden spending isn’t missed.
Worksheets: Fixed vs. Variable audit, per-paycheck proration, transfer planning, mock simulations, and a 90-day check-in.
Setup checklists for each account, guardrails (overdraft off, alerts on), and call scripts to move due dates.
Credit Card Utilization planning pages to support healthier usage while staying within your departments.
Clear rules: no cross-borrowing, no guessing, Emergency and Builder/Investment get funded every paycheck (start at 1% if needed).
Who it’s for
Adult learners, families, and anyone who wasn’t taught financial literacy but wants a practical, repeatable way to get bills handled, control day-to-day spending, and stop the checkout chaos.
Use this workbook on its own or alongside the Build Before You Borrow class for interactive lessons and accountability.
Format: Workbook; concise, write-in pages; plain-English instructions.
Author: Jasmine Gant, EduPro Prep Academy.
This isn’t another budget you abandon. It’s a structure you set once, automate, and keep—so money becomes predictable, bills clear on time, and your plan finally sticks.