"I'd been scribbling notes everywhere—sticky notes, random notebook pages, even napkins from my truck's glovebox (seriously...)."
Haha, this hits way too close to home. I remember one project where I was juggling two kitchen remodels at once and thought I had everything under control. Spoiler alert: I didn't. I'd scribbled a client's payment details on the back of a tile sample board (because why not?), only to accidentally leave it behind at a supplier's showroom. Cue the frantic phone calls and awkward explanations...
Since then, I've embraced the spreadsheet life too. Definitely agree—keeping it simple is key. I tried a fancy app once, and it felt like I needed a PhD just to track payments. Now it's just a quick weekly update, and I can actually enjoy my coffee without that nagging "did-I-forget-something?" feeling hanging over me. Life-changing, honestly.
Haha, your tile sample board story made me chuckle—I can relate a bit too well. I once scribbled critical measurements on a paint swatch card, only to hand it over to a client without thinking...talk about embarrassing phone calls later. But you're right, simplicity really is the secret sauce here. Fancy apps always seem great until they're more hassle than they're worth. Glad you found your groove with spreadsheets—makes life way less stressful.
"Fancy apps always seem great until they're more hassle than they're worth."
I get your point about simplicity, but honestly, I found using a dedicated app way more manageable than spreadsheets. Spreadsheets got messy fast for me—too easy to misplace a number or break a formula. With the app, everything syncs automatically, so I'm not worrying about accidentally overwriting something critical. Guess it depends on personal experience, but sometimes a little complexity upfront can save headaches down the road...
I totally get the hesitation about apps—been there myself. At first, I thought, "why complicate things?" But honestly, after juggling receipts, invoices, and loan schedules scattered across my desk (and floor...), I gave an app a shot. Took a bit to get used to, sure, but now it's second nature. Sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone pays off big-time. But hey, whatever keeps you sane during the build is the right choice in my book.
Did you find the app helpful for tracking change orders too, or mostly just payments? I've been hesitant because I don't want another thing to manage...but if it simplifies the chaos, might reconsider.
