Sinking Funds
That Don't Lie
You have $8,000 in savings. But how much of that is for emergencies? How much is earmarked for the car that needs new tires? How much can you actually spend on vacation? The number in your account is real, but the breakdown in your head is fiction. You tell yourself you have $2,000 for travel, but there is no proof. Just optimism and fuzzy math.
The moment sinking funds become guesswork
You want to book a flight. You check your savings account: $8,000.
You think: Emergency fund is $3,000. Car fund is maybe $1,500. Holiday gifts... did I already spend that?
You open a spreadsheet or note you made months ago. The numbers do not match what is in your account now.
So you guess. You book the flight and hope nothing breaks before your next paycheck.
The problem is not the money. The problem is you cannot see what is already spoken for.
How it's structured
Workspace Shape
What you track
Savings goals, contributions, withdrawals
Structure
Parent savings log with child logs per fund (Vacation, Car, Emergency, etc.)
Fields
How you work with it
Create a fund for each goal
- Separate balance for each purpose
Add monthly contributions
- Fund grows, you see progress
Transfer between funds
- Priorities shift without losing history
Withdraw when needed
- Clear record of what the money was for