It’s Time to Face the Music

LISTEN TO INCREASE — IT'S TIME TO FACE THE MUSIC

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Every January, people flood the internet with New Year’s resolutions. Eat better. Exercise more. Lose weight. But one resolution rarely makes the list—getting your finances right. And that’s a problem, because money stress quietly controls more lives than we’d like to admit.

Several years ago, one of my employees stomped into my office, clearly frustrated, and slammed the door behind her.

“I am never getting ahead,” she said. “I feel like I’m on a hamster wheel that doesn’t go anywhere. Every time I think I’m ahead, something happens and I’m behind again.”

By her tone, I could tell they felt underpaid. But here’s the thing—I know exactly what they makes. And it wasn’t chump change. In fact, it was above market rate. So I decided to ask a simple question.

“How much do you make?” I asked.

“Well… somewhere around this amount,” they said.

I followed up with, “What do you mean, ‘you think’? Do you know exactly how much you make?”

Silence.

And in that silence, we found the real problem.

This wasn’t an income issue. It was an awareness issue.

I’ve been there. Years ago, my wife and I sat at our kitchen table with zero dollars to our name. We didn’t know what we brought home, and we definitely didn’t know where it was going. We lived by the lie that “ignorance is bliss.”

A lot of people believe that if they don’t look at their bank account, they won’t have to worry about their money or be stressed out about their finances. So they ignore their money… until reality forces their hand.

And maybe that’s you right now. The holiday bills are showing up. The credit card is maxed out. The bank balance is lower than you expected. Ignorance worked for a season—but now it’s caught up with you.

Here’s the truth: avoiding your finances doesn’t remove stress—it delays it. And delayed stress always comes back bigger.

When my wife and I finally faced the music, it was humbling. I realized I wasn’t living lavishly, but I wasn’t living within my means either. I was spending like I made $50,000 when I made $35,000 at the time. Eating out too much. Spending money I didn’t have. It was a blow to the ego—but it was also the beginning of our journey towards Increase.

So as we start a new year, maybe the most important resolution isn’t about the gym or the scale—but about your money. How much you have and where it is going.

After a minute of silence, I looked at my employee and asked, “Are you ready to face the music?”

That’s my question for you today.

Are you ready to face the music? My homework assignment is simple. Get out the notes app or a sheet of paper and a pen and write down how much money you bring home each month… without looking at your accounts. Then, I want you to write down how much you spend in three categories - 1. Groceries; 2. Eating Out; and 3. Online shopping. Once you have written those down, download Rocket Money or any other budgeting app and see how much you’ve actually spent. 

Let’s face reality head on. Because facing the music is the first step in making strides in 2026 with your personal finances. .

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Zach Santmier is the owner of Trumble Agency, Inc. and the author of the personal financial course, Increase. He focuses on helping families escape paycheck to paycheck living so they can freely pursue their ideal future.