Diwali is over — the lights, the sweets, the gifts, the travel, and of course, the shopping spree. It’s the season when our wallets work overtime and our plans often take a backseat. If you followed our 6-Jar Money Management System Blog, now is the perfect time to pause, review, and reflect. After all, setting up your jars was just the first step — reviewing them is where the magic happens.
Think of it like football: even the best team watches recordings after a match. They see what worked, what didn’t, and adjust their strategies for the next game. The same applies to your money.
Why Reviewing Your Money Jars Matters
The money jar system is not a “set it and forget it” method. Life, expenses, and priorities change. Reviewing your jars helps you:
- Understand spending patterns: Where did your money really go during Diwali?
- Identify gaps: Did your necessities jar get stretched too thin? Did your play jar grow bigger than planned?
- Learn and improve: Adjust allocations to better match your lifestyle and goals.
- Re-align with financial goals: Stay on track for wealth-building and self-growth.
Remember: The goal is financial awareness, not guilt. Reviewing is about learning, not punishing yourself.
Step 1: Gather Your Data
Before you review, collect all your numbers:
- Bank statements
- Credit card bills
- Wallet or UPI transaction history
- Receipts for cash expenses
This is like watching your match recordings. You need facts before drawing conclusions.
Step 2: Review Each Jar
Now, go through your jars one by one.
- Necessities Jar
Did your essentials exceed the suggested 50–55%? Did groceries, bills, rent, or school fees spike during Diwali? If yes, it’s okay — festivals are exceptions. But note what caused the spike. Could any expense have been planned better? Use the insights to plan your next 1–2 months. Maybe create a festival buffer in your Necessities jar for next Diwali. - Financial Freedom Account
Did you invest consistently, or did festival expenses force you to pause SIPs or investments? Missing a month is okay, but tracking ensures you restart immediately. Consider automating your investments so life’s ups and downs don’t interrupt wealth-building. - LTSS Jar
Was this jar sufficient for travel, gifting, and Diwali shopping? Did you dip into another jar for planned expenses? If yes, next year, adjust LTSS allocation or start the festival fund early. Keep a planned spending log. Note your priorities — travel vs gifts vs celebrations. - Education & Personal Growth Jar
Did you continue investing in yourself? Did Diwali distractions push learning aside? Skills don’t pause because life does. Use review to schedule courses or books for the next quarter. Consider a small portion of LTSS for workshops or seminars that also double as joyful experiences. - Charity Jar
Did giving take a backseat during the festival, or were you still able to support causes you care about? Everyone resonates with different causes. Reflect on how meaningful your contributions felt. Did you volunteer, donate, or help someone directly? Use the review to plan monthly giving, even small amounts, so it stays consistent. - Play Jar (10%)
Did you overspend on sweets, gifts, or parties? Did your play jar feel too small or just right? Festivals are for enjoyment. The review is to balance guilt-free fun with discipline. Adjust next month’s play jar to recover or accommodate festival expenses. Fun should be guilt-free, not disruptive.
Step 3: Look for Patterns & Lessons
- Which jars got overstretched? Why?
- Which jars were under-utilized? Could you redirect funds to investment or education?
- Did festival spending impact your long-term goals?
This pattern recognition is your cheat sheet for the next financial quarter.
Think of it as video analysis for your financial game — you’ll spot strengths and weaknesses, and adjust strategy for the next round.
Step 4: Adjust and Rebalance
Once you review, rebalance your jars:
- Increase LTSS before festivals.
- Automate investments in FFA.
- Re-align necessities to avoid lifestyle creep.
- Ensure play and charity jars reflect your priorities.
The beauty of the jar system is flexibility. Percentages like 50%, 25%, 10%, etc., are guidelines, not rules. Life changes, and so should your jars.
Step 5: Set Mini Goals for the Next Quarter
- Necessities: Reduce wasteful spending by X%
- FFA: Resume SIPs missed during Diwali
- LTSS: Save for a weekend trip or gifts
- Education: Complete a short course or read a new book
- Charity: Volunteer at least once in the next month
- Play: Enjoy one indulgence per month guilt-free
Setting mini-goals keeps momentum going and turns reflection into action.
Key Takeaways from Your Money Jar Review
- Review regularly – monthly or quarterly is ideal.
- Life is dynamic – jar percentages are flexible guidelines.
- Patterns reveal lessons – notice overspending, underutilization, or neglect.
- Celebrate wins – if you stayed on track with any jar, pat yourself on the back.
- Adjust, don’t punish – review is for improvement, not guilt.
Final Thoughts
Just like a football team reviews match footage to improve, your money needs reflection. Festivals like Diwali are wonderful, but they can also stretch your finances. Reviewing your jars helps you learn, adapt, and plan better — so your money works for you, and not the other way around.
By checking, analysing, and rebalancing your jars, you strengthen your financial game, ensure continued growth, and stay aligned with your goals.
Start today — grab your jar notes, bank statements, and receipts — and treat your finances like a team you captain. Your next quarter will thank you.
