That sounds very sophisticated, but the need vs. love matrix is quite simple. It's just a way to consider the importance of potential expenditures and decide where something should be on your priority list. Once you've mastered the matrix for cash flow, you can use it for time management, too.

It looks like this:

In the upper right corner, if you both love and need something (really love and really need), it's a no brainer if you can afford it. Moving clockwise, the lower right is less clear cut. You may love a skinny latte on the way to work, but you probably don't need it with a capital N. However, it's a pretty small expense, so you may be able to work it into the budget, at least some of the time.

If you neither love it nor need it (as in the bottom left), you may want to think about why you're even considering buying it. Are you just craving something new? Feeling bored? Momentarily distracted? Step away from the register.

Finally, the upper left—those things you need but don't really love. Toothpaste. Car repairs. And, of course, your diabetes test strips fall into this category. These are the things you know are coming, so it pays to shop around (and put more money into the Love side of things). If you're looking for a way to always pay the same low price on test strips, take a look at the Accu-Chek^® Guide SimplePay card.¹

Always pay the same low price for test strips.

Sign up for the Accu-Chek^® Guide SimplePay savings program.¹

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