If the thought of opening your books brings dread, shame, or a “behind again” spiral, this episode is here to take the pressure all the way off.

In this conversation, I walk you through four supportive, nervous-system-safe options for approaching bookkeeping - especially during end-of-year or high-pressure seasons. No big task lists. No catch-up marathons. No shame.

You’ll learn:

• Why bookkeeping avoidance isn’t failure - it’s protection
• How to reconnect with your numbers without forcing capacity you don’t have
• When DIY support makes sense - and when handing it off is the most powerful move
• Why rest isn’t the reward for finishing… it’s what makes finishing possible

If you’re craving relief, clarity, and a calmer relationship with your money, this episode is for you.

Money Mindset Playbook: https://aimeecerka.com/mindset

For the full transcript and all links mentioned, see the blog post: https://aimeecerka.com/237

Ready To Take Action: https://aimeecerka.com/podcastlinks

What if your bookkeeping doesn't need an overhaul right now?

If the thought of touching your books or setting them up brings dread, shame,

or that behind, yet again feeling this episode is gonna be for you because

today we're taking the pressure all the way off, and I'm gonna show you the most

supportive ways to reconnect with your numbers before the year ends without

forcing yourself into a task or a cleanup that you just don't have the capacity for.

So let's get to it.

This is Money Simplified, the podcast where I help female

entrepreneurs go from stress and struggle to unstoppable with money.

Money is more than just budgeting and p and Ls, and we're gonna

take you through all of it here.

We blend proven financial strategy with mindset work and energetic

alignment, so you can create unstop.

Finances, build an unstoppable business and truly enjoy your unstoppable life.

It's time to take my wisdom and my expertise to help you simplify

money and go beyond the numbers.

I'm your host, Aimee Cerka.

Welcome.

I'm so glad you're here.

Welcome back to Money Simplified.

I'm your host, Aimee Cerka.

We are talking really this month about how we are creating more rest, removing

the pressure from ourselves and our businesses because there's so many more.

Obligations right now, and today's gonna be no exception.

Today, we're driving into the bookkeeping portion of this, like

one focus here for your bookkeeping.

If you've missed several of the other episodes, I would

like check those out as well.

They don't necessarily like build, they're just focusing on different areas.

So finish this one first and then go back.

We've talked about decision making, we've talked about your business finances,

the number one thing that you need to.

Increase your cash flow in December.

We talked about your personal finances, and then of course today we are

talking about bookkeeping and your books in general because end of the

year, January, February, like it.

It is like objectively worse.

Like it feels worse, right?

It's because the pressure is louder.

Like we're at the end of the year.

You've gotta get these things done.

People are going into reflection mode.

You start to feel that like tax season is coming, there's comparison

setting in, and then expectations.

Do you have this done?

Do you have this?

And if you have a bookkeeping software, because maybe you've

avoided that step and we're using an Excel spreadsheet, but opening your

bookkeeping software can feel like a.

A threat.

It's like a no.

It's not just like a oh, not a big deal task like we feel No.

Right.

Before we go any farther today, I want you to know you're not behind,

like you're human and your body, your nervous system is protecting you.

Now, granted, it's protecting you from what?

It thinks as a tiger, and really it's a little kitty cat, but

we're gonna work on all of that.

This, your body is not sabotaging you, you haven't failed, you haven't

messed anything up, and you're definitely not alone in this because

so many people, so many people deal with this like you're not alone.

If you are just like, I cannot figure this out.

I don't wanna have to deal with it.

Let me just avoid it until tax season comes, and then we're YouTubing videos

trying to figure this out, right?

But here's the thing that overwhelmed state that we're getting into, that's

not the place that we go into and like, Hey, we're gonna catch up our books

and we're gonna get it figured out.

So instead of giving you a big task list or like a generic rule,

I want to offer you four grounded options that you can choose from.

Like what feels in alignment for you.

Today or right now.

There's no shame.

And of course, as always, no pressure from me.

Like we need to, as I like to say, you've got this and I've got you,

like, there's not pressure here.

But before we dive into the four different options, I want to quickly.

Like segue here.

If you're listening to this and realizing like, I don't want to do this anymore.

Like, it's not something that I want to figure out on my own.

Like, I would love support, but I also wanna understand what I'm doing.

I've got two, um, ways for you to get help from me right now.

So I am releasing a course, a step-by-step bookkeeping course for QuickBooks.

Is like the step by step.

We'll get through all the bookkeeping principles, but QuickBooks Online

will be the step by step for you.

It is on pre-sale right now, so if you want to keep your books

in-house, you do it yourself, but you want to feel clear and calm

and like you want it to make sense.

You don't wanna have to be like, YouTubing, what the heck does this mean?

How do I do this?

This pre-sale is gonna be the most affordable way to learn bookkeeping

in a way that actually makes sense.

In time and time again, I've had people who take other bookkeeping courses and

then they come learn from me because the way that I explain it, it makes

sense, like that is my zone of genius.

I simplify things for you, so if you want to understand how to do this

yourself, this is the best way to do that.

I will walk with you step by step.

There's going to be live coaching calls within the initial launch

so we can do it together.

You can learn how to do this calmly so you're not overwhelmed because

you don't really know what to do.

The other thing, second option, if you're like, I really just

don't wanna do this at all, right?

Like, don't wanna touch it all at all.

So if you're filling that pull to hand it off completely, you can fill out,

it's a simple interest form and we can explore together what it might look

like for me to do your books directly.

Again.

Whichever of those options feels most aligned, go for it.

And if you wanna fill out the interest form, we have that conversation

and you're like, wait, no, I wanna do the pre-sale per bookkeeping

simplified, then we'll go that way.

All right.

Those links will be in the show notes, but let's get into the four different

options here, especially if you are feeling all of this pressure and

overwhelm with your books and bookkeeping.

First one, it's gonna sound simple, but this is really powerful.

Log in.

Log into your accounting software.

You don't necessarily have to categorize, you don't have to clean anything up.

Just open it and take a deep breath.

I know it sounds really simple, but in this moment you're gonna

remind your brain, you're gonna tell your body like, I'm okay.

I'm safe.

I can handle this in small doses.

So when we go to take action later, that's gonna be easier

because we're gonna work on this.

And I would challenge you like once a week, every couple days, just open it up,

take a deep breath, then close it out,

second option.

If you've got a little bit more, you're like, no, I can open it.

Like that's, that feels good, Aimee.

I've got this.

So then set a goal.

Categorize 30 days.

Scan the recent month.

Not all of it, not the whole backlog, not all of the year, not Why does

my chart of accounts look like this?

Not wire the balances off, categorize the expenses.

So that'd be like a 30 day catch up.

Option three maybe, and this could be instead of option two or in conjunction

with option two, look at your p and l. Reports, profit and loss statement.

What is surprising on there?

What is, that's probably not correct.

Categorized on there.

What are some of the things, like what does it look like?

How do you feel looking at your report, profit and loss statement, year to date?

That'll probably give you an option.

Cash versus accrual.

For 95% of my listeners, it's gonna be cash.

But you could try it.

See which one, like does it look different?

Is there, 'cause a lot of you probably won't have a difference

in cash versus accrual.

So look at the report.

Option four, we kind of hinted at this in the beginning.

Get support.

You were never meant to do this alone.

And it's not, it's not a competence issue.

Your bookkeeping and your books.

It's not rocket science.

Like that's why I'm teaching the course.

Right.

Like it's, it's a simple thing once you learn it, but

it's not your zone of genius.

It's not the best use of your time.

And we're already like, money's emotional, right.

We talk about this all the time.

Money is emotional, money is energetic.

All of those things.

And if we are working through your beliefs and your identities around

money to help you take action, and the ways that you need to take action

within your business to be in alignment, to rewrite those old stories and to

establish the systems that feel aligned.

Bookkeeping for a lot of people just becomes an extra thing that

we're having to try and tackle.

You are running a business.

You're serving your clients, you're managing your home,

you're holding everyone else.

You're trying to take care of yourself.

Not being your own bookkeeper is a really powerful move

unless you genuinely want to be.

This is a very.

Easy, low cost.

It costs less than most people think.

That's also why I price my packages the way that I do to make it more attainable,

because I know the value in this.

If we can get you in the door, get you taken care of, this is one thing

that you aren't trying to manage, you take off in your business.

So this isn't about weakness, right?

This is you staying.

In the CEO role that you were called to, and the side note here,

this is not something AI can do.

Well, definitely not well.

Like even the AI within QuickBooks, that's like built in.

Can't figure these things out.

You still have to have the human check-in on it.

Sure we can create rules and categorization, but it's not

something that you can just automate and hands off completely.

You still need the human aspect.

It has not gotten to that point yet.

Maybe it will one day and then we can go back and listen to this episode and laugh.

But right now you still need a human aspect.

So that's making time to do it yourself.

'cause putting it off yourself isn't gonna work long term.

We've gotta work on this.

Yes, we're taking a small step right now.

But again, we gotta take continual steps to improve.

This isn't a long term solution.

This is the right now solution

because we're not gonna compound it and make it worse.

This is like Stop.

Stop making it worse, but then we gotta make it better, right?

So if you're like, I just don't wanna do it, I don't wanna do this alone anymore.

Ken, you got two options.

But keeping simplified, that's gonna be the DIY.

If you're tired of YouTubing and Googling and like, I think I've got

this right, but don't let your CPA see the books 'cause I don't really

know that I'm actually doing this.

Right.

And that fear, the IRS showing up because of what if you did it wrong and then

you're audited and all those other things.

Bookkeeping simplified is gonna break it down.

There's no jargon.

Well, we'll explain what some of the jargon is that you need to

know, but there's no overwhelm.

You're gonna understand not just what to do, but why it works, and that's key

there because we can look at the step by step and it'll tell us what to do.

But if you know why you're doing the things that you're doing, any every

little thing that shows up isn't gonna throw you off track because

you understand the principles behind it, you're gonna know what to do.

And that confidence, if you're gonna do it yourself and your books is game changing.

Game changing,

second path, let me support you directly.

If you're like, yeah, you know what?

I would love to stay in my own zone of genius, like I am stretched too thin this,

or maybe you're not stretched too thin.

You're just like, I don't wanna do this anymore.

Then I've got a simple form.

That we'll fill out and we'll explore what it looks like for

me to do the bookkeeping for you.

And I start with the form to keep it very low barrier of entry.

You fill out the form and then we can move forward.

We can get on a call and talk about it.

Don't worry, we'll have a conversation if we wanna have a conversation.

Lowest barrier of entry.

Let's just start with an interest form so we can start to get

on the same page together.

Here's what I want you to leave.

Here's what I want to leave you with though.

Pick one of these four.

You can pick multiple if you want, but pick at least one.

And if it just feels like it's so much, it's way too much, fill out the form.

Let me support you with your bookkeeping.

Let's get on the right path.

Together because when you figure this out, your clients are gonna come faster, more

because the frustration and the fear and the resentment tied up in your books is

costing you cash flow in your business.

I can guarantee it.

Alright, so.

We don't have to have perfect books though to rest.

Take one step.

Let's work on a relationship with money that's not stressing

out your nervous system.

Even if it was as simple as opening up the books, don't underestimate the

power and the rest that can actually come when you take those simple little steps.

Rest is not the reward for finishing everything.

It's what makes finishing possible.

And that's why we wanna prioritize this today.

Very low lift and take the rest that you need.

If you're ready for your bookkeeping to finally make sense, whether that's

learning the step by step inside bookkeeping simplified, or you want me

to help you stay in your expertise and scale that cash flow and take this off

of your plate, both of those links for those options are in the show notes,

so make sure to go check out that out.

Take action and rest when it comes to your books.

I don't remember.

You've got this.

I've got you.

We'll see you next time.

Bye for now.

Thank you so much for listening to Money Simplified.

My favorite place to hang out is on Instagram.

You can find me at Aimee Cerka to catch all the behind the scenes of my stories.

Send me a message to share your biggest takeaway or just to say hi.

I love hearing from podcast list.

Nurse, when you're ready to take action on your mindset, your money, or the

systems behind it all, I'm here for you.

Whether you're snagging a free resource, exploring a mini course, diving into the

fundamentals with Money Mastery Academy, getting in-depth support inside the

unstoppable experience, or scheduling a complimentary bookkeeping consult to

finally get hands on help with your books.

Your next step is waiting for you, Aimee Cerka.com/podcast links has all the

information, and of course, that link is hanging out in the show notes for you.

We'll see you next time.