Cash flow refers to the constant movement of money, both where and how much you're spending as well as how much you're earning in return. Looking at cash flow is an important step in a good financial plan because it can help you determine places where you need to scale back on spending. For example, if you buy a $2 cookie every day, it won't feel like you're spending a lot of money. But after a month, you will have spent $60 on cookies that could have gone to something else, like car repairments. By being aware of this spending, you can save more money and have better control of spending habits.