TATM Budget After Thinking Template™️

Designed by a lawyer who struggled with spending in his 20s—and now teaches personal finance to law students and young lawyers.

You’re not bad with money.

You were just never taught what to do with it.

Most young lawyers:

• are managing their first real salary
• are juggling student loans and rising expenses
• feel pressure to “have it together” financially

And yet still feel unsure about where their money goes.

That’s not a personal failure. It’s a missing system.

Why I built this.

I was a lawyer in my 20s making good money and still stressed about spending.

Not because I was reckless—but because no one ever taught me how to manage a real paycheck, debt, and lifestyle changes at the same time.

I eventually figured it out.

Now, I teach personal finance to law students so they don’t have to learn the hard way like I did.

This budgeting template is the tool I wish I’d had as a young lawyer.

What this template helps you do.

This isn’t about restriction or perfection.

It helps you:

• See exactly where your money is going
• Plan realistically with your current salary
• Balance spending, saving, and student loans
• Feel calm and intentional instead of reactive

All without complicated spreadsheets or apps.

Built specifically for young lawyers

Most budgeting tools assume:

• No student loans

• Lots of free time

• A love for spreadsheets

This one doesn’t.

It’s designed for:

• A fixed associate salary

• Personal savings targets instead of broken rules like (save 20%)

• Real life and real spending habits

Simple, realistic, and actually usable.

What’s included:

• A downloadable budgeting template

• Flexible categories tailored to young associates

• Instructions for a total budgeting plan

• A 6-month system designed so you don't have to budget forever

No apps to learn. No ongoing subscriptions.

Why it’s $25.

I wanted this to be:

• Accessible early in your career
• Low-pressure to try
• Worth far more than the cost

$25 is about the price of one lunch— and the clarity will last for your career.

This is perfect for you if:

• You earn a solid salary but don't have a plan.

• You're unsure where your dollars are going.

• You don't want to budget forever- my system requires minimal effort, and realistic evaluation, for only 6 months.

• You prefer simple tools over complex systems.

You don’t need to be perfect with money.

You just need clarity.

This budgeting template was built by a practicing lawyer and personal finance professor who’s been exactly where you are.

Get the budgeting template for $25.

Start feeling more in control of your money.

Testimonials from my Personal Finance for Lawyers Course: