A simple notebook and pen is the best financial planning and tax management tool you can have. With every single purchase or financial transaction, make a note of what you bought and its purpose. For tax purposes, it is far less stressful to take ten seconds at the time of purchase to write on your receipt than it is to try to remember the details when you are preparing your tax information.

And, when you have questions about terms, strategies, and other financial matters, you can record them so you can find someone or someplace to have them answered later. You can also use your notebook to write details about items you have seen while shopping and ideas you have that can be explored for possible income generating possibilities.